The Big Blue Daily Mail -- Back in the Saddle Edition

by Truzenzuzex on Sep 13, 2009 12:58 PM EDT in News Comment 34 comments

RichRod and Tate Forcier celebrate after yesterday's 38-34 victory over Notre Dame.

I'm back in the saddle again
I'm back
I'm back in the saddle again
I'm riding, Im loading up my pistol
I'm riding, I really got a fistful
I'm riding, Im shining up my saddle
I'm riding, this snake is gonna rattle
-- Aerosmith, Back in the Saddle Again

I'm now fully recovered from my recent junket and ready to ride the blogosphere again. Good to be fully back, locked and loaded. It's time for some FOOTBAW, and already I'm seeing advertisements for the SEC/Big East basketball challenge games and loving it. This is the last weekend of the relatively quiet period for A Sea of Blue, we are now shifting into full-blown Wildcats sports mode. Nothing but games from now until (hopefully) April.

First, I want to make you all aware of the new SBNation.com. It has changed dramatically for the better, and is a great place to go to get details on any game. Content not just from SBN blogs, but other sources including Dr. Saturday Matt Hinton and Eamonn Brennan will be available in the new "story stream" format. I think you will enjoy it.

Second, just a comment on some of the games yesterday. I must admit, I am much more impressed with South Carolina than I was, and much less impressed with Georgia. That was a great game yesterday, and the Gamecocks really put a scare into their neighbor to the South, and between the hedges no less. And after a CUSA team (Houston) beat Oklahoma State, I think how I look at Georgia will significantly change.

And the USC-Ohio State game was another really good game. I came away wondering what all the hype was about with Terrelle Pryor, and wondering if the shoulder injury suffered by USC's frosh QB will be a problem, but it was a good contest that validated some of my assumptions about both teams, and disabused me of some others.

Congratulations to Michigan for a huge win against Notre Dame. I have to admit being a closet Michigan football fan, at least to the extent that they are my favorite Big Televen team. I also have a soft spot for RichRod, and I'm glad to see that he is turning that program around. The young QB Tate Forcier was very impressive for a freshman. Fun game, too bad I only got to see the highlights.

I watched the Florida game until it got out of hand. I think Florida may have a few defensive issues, but their offense is a machine that will probably be able to outscore almost anybody. But the game, as you might expect, got boring about halfway through the second quarter.

Rivalry Week is coming for UK. Louisville comes into Commonwealth Stadium next Saturday at noon, and I am really looking forward to this game. I am well aware that Louisville is entirely capable of upsetting UK, but this is the first time in a while I feel like UK has a notably superior team on paper, and even though we may well lose, it feels good not to be the underdogs for once. Be sure to keep an eye on the SBNation Louisville Cardinal blog, Card Chronicle, for how the other side of the rivalry is thinking. Now, for the news:

UK Basketball News

Kentucky fans, Calipari haters need to get a grip about "secondary violations"
He's right, this is silliness that needs to stop. There are always secondary violations, even under the redoubtable Tubby Smith. So get a grip, haters and hand-wringers.
New Rich Brooks and John Calipari Commercial
If you haven't seen it, you really need to watch it. It's great.
UK can’t comment on academic status
UK can't discuss the academic status of athletes. This is consistent with last year.
UMass should have left this seat vacant
Wrong on the facts. Wrong on the logic. Just plain wrong. Real sad. Embrace. The. Hate.
DeCourcy: Patterson easy No. 1 choice
Why Honor Calipari's Tarnished Legacy? -- NCAA Basketball FanHouse
Why not honor him? He did his job, and he did it correctly. One player behaved badly, and another was suspected of doing so, and for that he should be ostracized?

Thank God we don't treat our presidents and congresspeople the way Steele proposes to treat Calipari. But Cal's an easy target, so why not take a few shots? A pity Steele still misses the mark -- by a mile.
Gillispie speaks out about rehab
"I'm not very proud of what happened in Kentucky two weeks ago," Gillispie told the TV station. "That's inexcusable at this stage of my life. It should have never happened."

That's right. It should not have happened, and it is inexcusable. But you don't need to be excused, you need to take control of your life. Do that, and redemption is always possible.
The C-J's Sunday College Basketball Notebook | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal
The best quote in the story is the final one, in which Calipari says, "This is like Disneyworld compared to where I've been. No disrespect to UMass or Memphis, but it's different." Heh. Kentucky as Disneyworld.

Wow.
UCF Knights will get it right at Southern Mississippi -- OrlandoSentinel.com
...can you believe Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari actually apologized to fans for sending a No. 44 UK basketball jersey to our president?

Can you believe that Bianchi got his facts wrong again? Calipari apologized for offending fans by mixing sports and politics, not for sending the president a jersey. Douche.
Vaught's Views: Ticket scam no surprise for Tarter: AMNews.com
Offered without comment.
Kentucky basketball Big Blue Madness set for Oct. 16 | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal
John Calipari's first Big Blue Madness as University of Kentucky men's basketball coach will tip off at 7:30p.m. Oct.16, the school announced Thursday. The event will be televised by the Big Blue Sports Network.
Calipari making donation to 9/11 fund
Calipari looks to close the deal with Harris, Lamb, and Irving home visits
College basketball ShootAround: SEC - Men's College Basketball - ESPN
John Calipari wasted no time in turning Kentucky back into a national player. Who else is gunning for the SEC title alongside the Wildcats.
UK confirms reporting secondary rules violation | Vaught's Views

UK Football News

UK's Gonzalez still waiting for his opener | KentuckySports.com
Glad to have Gonzalez back on the line. I thought our center play was a little iffy against Miami of Ohio.
Morgan Newton: ‘Life is treating me well’
Good. Newton just needs to keep at it.
Family fighting blue bloodlines to support Burke | KentuckySports.com
"All our friends are saying the same thing," says Greg Burke. "They say 'I hope Justin throws for 300 yards and Kentucky wins the game.' And we understand that totally."

Heh. You gotta love that.
Lack of buzz belies Cats-Cards game | KentuckySports.com
As Rich Brooks might say, "It's time to get fired up." It's UK-U of L week, though my trusty antenna tells me there is less buzz surrounding this year's Cats-Cards grid matchup than in any time in recent memory.

Is this a recycled article from last year? I think so, as I remember last year being repeatedly noted for a lack of "buzz." I think the reason is that U of L needs to have a great team to generate "buzz," no matter what kind of team UK has. I think that is really just a function of the size of the fan bases more than anything else.
UK football notebook: Coaches recruiting | KentuckySports.com
A big recruiting update from Chip Cosby.
Wildcat Whisperer: Randall Cobb, Football Player
Cats and Cards often have turned chalk to dust | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal
We've been here before. A week before the annual renewal of the University of Louisville-University of Kentucky football rivalry, the commonwealth seems in great agreement about the outcome.
Kentucky Football Has Bigtime Vistor Today
Great news here.

Other UK Sports News

Wildcats Fall to No. 17 Kentucky
The UK volleyball team is rockin' da house!

NCAA Sports News

Okay, Fortson ‘tweeted’ inappropriately
Before you make any self-righteous remarks, look in the mirror and think long and hard. Remember when you were somewhere between the ages of 18 and 21. If you can honestly say to yourself you carefully considered every single comment, phrase or remark you made without making any mistakes, please step to the front of the line, kneel down and prepare to be knighted.

Heh. Thank God Twitter did not exist when I was in college. I would never be able to show my face in public if it had.
Arkansas chancellor supports Pelphrey
The chancellor of the University of Arkansas gave unqualified support Friday to basketball coach John Pelphrey, calling him the man who is "going to turn it around" after police investigated three players over an alleged rape.

The dreaded vote of confidence.
Bluegrass State Basketball: Ex-Cat Travis Ford Earns Extension at Oklahoma State
Good for Travis Ford. I'm glad to see him doing so well.

Other News of Interest

Jordan reaches basketball Hall of Fame
No surprise here, of course. I used to follow the Bulls closely when Jordan played for them, but kind of fell out of love with the NBA in general since the turn of the century.
The True "Tubby" Smith
Heh.
Distiller waxes red over competitor's seal
Maker's Mark Distillery, famous for the distinctive wax seal atop its Kentucky bourbon, is seeing red over what it considers a trademark infringement by some competitors.
What we learned in the SEC: Week 2 - College Football Nation - ESPN

The Daily Schadenfreude

Crompton and the Vols Trade Perception for Reality - Rocky Top Talk
Could this be the year?

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Comments

Truz

I. too, look at Georgia differently. And South Carolina. And Boise State, and LSU and Vandy. and a bunch more.
Do you realize we are probably going to be in the top twenty five after this weekend? Boise State only beat Miami of OHIO by six more points than we did. Weren’t they listed at No. 13? So we should be no worse than 20th in the country don’t you think? And it certainly looks like the UK-Florida game will be for domination of the SEC East. They’re already given up nine points so our defense is much better than theirs. Both of us should be undefeated at that time. Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Vandy have all showed they can’t get it done. Yep, its a lot better now that I see we can play with all the big boys, and all of it based on the ‘Rumble At The River’.
Alabama struggled with a nobody so that ones in the books as a win. Tennessee lost to a nobody.
Its forming up to be THE year. Its much simplier when you look at it this way.

by ParisGuy on Sep 13, 2009 1:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I can't imagine ...

… That we would be in the top 25 in any poll. But I’m sure you offered all this tongue-in-cheek.

Anyway, we’ll know a little more about this team after next week. I do think that Georgia is weaker than I thought, South Carolina stronger, and Florida is pretty much what I expected them to be. Tennessee lost to UCLA, which is hardly a nobody, both polls had them ranked in the 30’s (interestingly, fairly close to UK).

I look for Kentucky to move up by attrition, but nobody is going to put them in the top 25 after having played only one weak football team which has yet to score a point in 2009. But unless UK can defeat Louisville at home, they aren’t going anywhere but down.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Sep 13, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

You are SO right.

by ParisGuy on Sep 13, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Houston should be in the Top 25

by UKTimmy on Sep 13, 2009 3:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think they already are, aren't they?

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Sep 13, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, they werent yesterday when they played OK St.

by UKTimmy on Sep 13, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ok ...

… well, they are now.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Sep 13, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why should Calipari apologize?

So what if he gave Obama a jersey? Who cares if Calipari is a Dem or Repub? It’s his own personal business. His job is to win basketball games, not placate the conservatives OR liberals in his fan base.

I honestly don’t get the outrage. I’m personally a Democrat, and Pitino recently appeared at some event with Laura Bush and Rudy Guiliani. Good for him. I don’t care about his politics.

by don'tshootmei'macard on Sep 13, 2009 3:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

agree....

i did not vote for obama but he is the president. tru had so many articles, did one of them reopen the issue?

only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team

by memphis wildcat on Sep 13, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He only apologized ...

… for mixing sports and politics. That’s all. He says the two should not be mixed, and he forgot that. I totally agree with him.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Sep 13, 2009 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think...

…he was merely doing a bit of promotion (he’s good at it). I think the people who overreacted were more guilty of mixing sports and politics.

Changing the subject, I’ll be watching the game Saturday at a UK fan’s house. What can I say, he has a better TV. And at least one other Cardinal fan will be there to console me.

I won’t be at his house for the basketball game, however.

by don'tshootmei'macard on Sep 13, 2009 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Forget the politics

By no means am I an Obama supporter BUT he gave the sitting president a UK jersey. How cool is that? Dem or repub the whiners about this need to have some respect for the office.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Sep 13, 2009 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i agree....

they ar the same ones that whinned about the president telling kids to stay in school and study hard….

only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team

by memphis wildcat on Sep 14, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What could you possibly find redeeming about Rich Rodriguez?

by mrmondaynite on Sep 13, 2009 3:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I just like the guy.

What can I say?

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Sep 13, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree

unfortunately he’s going to bring the Big10/11 into the 21st century in football.

by hoboat33 on Sep 13, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wesley Woodyard intercepted a pass in the Bengals-Broncos game today.

by mrmondaynite on Sep 13, 2009 3:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

After the Bengals fiasco

I read the comments from the UT-UCLA game thread, on Rocky Top Talk. Most of the comments are too funny. It will make you forget about the Bengal’s loss for a bit :-P

"You are what you are and you ain't what you ain't"

by iam4ukintn on Sep 13, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

tru - wow! the break did you good....

was going to try and catch some nfl, but got hooked looking through your blog….

Morgan Newton has a great attitude.

also, watching ohio state yesterday lose their 6th game in a row to a top 5 opponent almost made me feel sorry for them – what is that about? btw, i said “almost”…

and just when i was about to put my wildcat spare tire cover back on my jeep, cal goes disneyworld on me…. guess i will have to leave it off a bit longer…i have half a mind to email that article to TLT Caukins….

only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team

by memphis wildcat on Sep 13, 2009 4:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

one more thing....

i was really conflicted yesterday – hate to see a SEC football team lose to the PUKE,er PAC10 – but if it had to be anyone, might as well have been UT….

only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team

by memphis wildcat on Sep 13, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heh.

I can appreciate that sentiment. I was highly suspicious of UT, and UCLA was the test they needed to pass to sell me on their quality.

But they did not pass. :-)

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Sep 13, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Volunteers

last significant possession ended in some of the worst play calling i’ve seen since John Ray. TN could not move through the middle but Kiffin continued to call run plays between the tackles. I hope he keeps up that bull headed determinism in futility. For some reason it remined me of my 10 year old repeatedly trying to unscrew a cap the wrong way.

by hoboat33 on Sep 13, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

part of the reason he called those plays

imo, was that he lost confidence in the pass after 3 interceptions….

only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team

by memphis wildcat on Sep 13, 2009 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

UT Quarterback

Kinda reminds me of “Wounded Duck Kelly” at Miami in the late 90’s…What do they see in this guy?

Flash...

by ro307805 on Sep 17, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Polls Are Out: Duplicate Top 4

Gators, Horns, Trojans & Tide lead the field. Cats 9 votes in Coaches’ Poll.

"[O]f those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people; commencing demagogues, and ending tyrants." --Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 1

by Wild Weasel on Sep 13, 2009 4:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah.

Houston made it in, as did Michigan in the AP. The coaches preferred Oregon State and Missouri. Both had Kansas, which I don’t quite buy — they beat UTEP, and get into the top 25? Huh?

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Sep 13, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tru,

AEROSMITH instead of Gene Autry????

I love Steve and the guys as much as anyone, but that song title belongs to the great singing cowboy. Now you wanna quote lines from “Walk This Way”………just sayin….lol

Brooks and Calipari are a marketing boon for anyone that gets them right now. And someone is getting their scripts dead on!

There’s a reason I wanted to go on a recruiting visit with Cal on my “bucket” list…..its there above….

I do love that “sea of orange” guy……

I don’t think Tubby is going to change his name for Andre’…..lol….even if Andre does make more money.

Those split households are the toughest. I wont even let the relatives I have that acknowledge the existence of Louisville to come to the house on game days….hehehe

If Arkansas will be patient, John Pelphrey will turn that program around…..I wish him all the best.

Maker’s Mark didn’t invent melting wax over the top of a bottle…….but they have damn near perfected it.

UCLA may have provided enough footage to the Cats to sneak that victory in this year after all.

Travis Ford may never want to leave OSU….

I can’t wait until someone, anyone, at any school, Tweets from the huddle…..“Coach says he is gonna kick our a……. if we dont pull our heads out of it!”

Remember, we're having fun now!!!

by ALLBLUCAT on Sep 13, 2009 7:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Lane Kiffin Era

Pretty fun so far.

by wildcatwhisperer on Sep 13, 2009 7:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

LSU - Vanderbilt

I see LSU moved up two slots for beating Vanderbilt by 14 in Baton Rouge. Seems The Dores have a lot more respect than most are giving them or its just shows the sillenss of early season polls.

by ParisGuy on Sep 13, 2009 7:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs