It's Never To Early To Fight About Football, Is It?

by Greg Alan Edwards on Jan 16, 2012 9:06 PM EST

OK, yes I know this is a first post after returning, and yes I know only I would have the stones to start something right off the bat, but hey, I think this is worth at least having the discussion. Last year when expansion talk was all the rage and we were all bouncing back and forth about whether or not we wanted a bigger, badder SEC, some folks, including yours truly, were concerned about where that might leave our Gridiron Cats when the dust all settles. Well, the first predictions are out for the fall, and hang on to your socks folks, they ain't pretty. At the present time, Bill Connelly over at SBNation Prime (I don't know what else to call it) says that the Cats are in for a fall of epic proportions (well, maybe not epic, but pretty dang bad) come this season in Commonwealth Stadium and places beyond. Connelly may not be right, but my fear at this point is that he is not wrong. So, as we enjoy our sojourn into the bliss of basketball season, let us hope it is enough to carry us throughout the year, as any hope of this fall being something more than a painful reminder of the fact that Kentucky Football has never been a priority fades away in the distance.

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Dang, but it looks like we already had a bad season NEXT year...

But that assumes that next years team will be playing at exactly the same level as last years, and hopefully we have a bit better handle on the QB position going into 2012 than we did in 2011. And one of the beauties of the off season is that all the teams have an identical and undefeated record, and we have no reason not to entertain the hope that this is the year we start a break through into the rarefied atmosphere of the middle of the SEC pack!

Now my optimism may be a bit on the side of Pollyanna-ism, but if I wanted to restrict myself to strict realism, then I would be a fan of the pros, wouldn’t I? and speaking of fan vision, is it relevant that Billy Connelly is a fan of Mizzou, which calculates will win 3 more games with their move to the SEC?

Luckily for us as fans the outcomes are not determined on paper, and especially by statistics based on last year’s team and games, but on the field. As for me I look forward to the Cats having a much better team with a better record, and please, don’t try to confuse me with the “facts”, I already have my dreams, and I don’t need your “stinkin’ facts”. :-)

by blenheim bard on Jan 17, 2012 12:38 AM EST reply actions

Connelly does seem to be a Mizzou lean, reading into the post deeply. But based on Mizzou's history

he probably has every right to be. Can UK adjust to the tougher schedule is the real question. And will the enhanced recruiting which by most logic should open up with the new markets in Texas and Missouri, be enough to keep up the pace? If Joker & Co. can figure out a way to start opening up those new recruiting routes early, get some above average Texas boys in here, and a few from elsewhere, it will sure make the road a lot easier to remain relevant in the SEC.

Another question comes to light as well, will the SEC drop the divisional format in football like they did basketball at some point and go to a 4 team elimination to determine the SEC Champ?

I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!

by Greg Alan Edwards on Jan 17, 2012 9:14 AM EST up reply actions

I'll take the ... sub-bait.

What makes you think the conference expansion will “open up the new markets in Texas and Missouri” ? By your calculation (and implicit agreement with Connelly), UK will be worse than ever. For what reason, then, do you think UK will be able to swoop in on Texas and Missouri kids? So they can come to Lexington and suffer beatdowns at the hands of their home-state schools?

by mrmondaynite on Jan 17, 2012 10:48 AM EST up reply actions

well, I was hoping those gates would open for everyone in the conference

and that the Cats would work hard to get an early jump on them…..no bait here, just an observation…..I mean not everyone can play for A&M and Mizzou…….I know we want those kids, but surely there will be some doors open for kids that are able to play SEC ball and have not gotten a look see before?

I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!

by Greg Alan Edwards on Jan 17, 2012 11:24 AM EST up reply actions

Yes, UK will get a shot at the 3* and below kids from Texas & MO,

but that was true before conference expansion. Missouri isn’t exactly fertile grounds anyway (though Texas is usually has the most talent coming out of HS).

by mrmondaynite on Jan 17, 2012 11:41 AM EST up reply actions

Honestly, I didnt know we were getting any kids from that direction. I knew that Georgia was big for us, as well as some of the other more easterly southern states,

but, I hadn’t seen much from out west, except a couple kids from California

I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!

by Greg Alan Edwards on Jan 17, 2012 11:45 AM EST up reply actions

You are correct - UK hasn't gotten any lately, but the "shot" at them remains the same.

I just don’t get how the conference expansion would make them more likely to come, as you suggest.

by mrmondaynite on Jan 17, 2012 12:00 PM EST up reply actions

Kentucky is and has been in the SEC...

the kids from TX, MO, etc. always have the option of coming. I don’t know how the entrance of A&M & Mizzou changes that.

by mrmondaynite on Jan 17, 2012 12:01 PM EST up reply actions

Are you serious??

Blue... there is no other color to Bleed !!!

by a2d2 on Jan 17, 2012 7:34 AM EST reply actions

This is me we are talking about of course I am serious, not.......lol

I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!

by Greg Alan Edwards on Jan 17, 2012 9:09 AM EST up reply actions

Not taking bait.

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

by Glenn Logan on Jan 17, 2012 8:26 AM EST reply actions 2 recs

It really wasnt Glenn.....just figured I would have some fun with the title.....

sorry, I couldnt resist.

The new schedule does worry me though. I dont know about the 3-9 gloom and doom prediction that Connelly makes, but this new and expanded SEC does make for some serious concerns once the season starts.

I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!

by Greg Alan Edwards on Jan 17, 2012 9:08 AM EST up reply actions

Football? We play football?

I am focused on beating Arkansas and Alabama back to back. When we can do that in football, get back with me. :)

Making waves in a sea of blue.

by kywineman on Jan 17, 2012 12:01 PM EST reply actions

I don't think the schedule matters,

our team is not going to be very good next year regardless of who we play.

by wklawdog on Jan 17, 2012 5:11 PM EST reply actions

The way I see it with this new expanded format UK hasn't a Chinaman's chance to ever see another bowl bid

So I’m exclusively concentrating on the best team in the country to win us number 8. Joker and crew, have fun.

A man is nothing more than a summation of his scars!

by KansasUKCat on Jan 17, 2012 6:27 PM EST reply actions

The way China's economy is going compared to ours, the

Chinaman’s chance is getting better all the time.

Making waves in a sea of blue.

by kywineman on Jan 18, 2012 11:13 PM EST up reply actions

to answer your question

YES YES FOR THE LOVE OF GOD YES

by blue kentucky girl on Jan 18, 2012 12:38 PM EST reply actions

lol......

I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!

by Greg Alan Edwards on Jan 18, 2012 1:02 PM EST up reply actions

Being a football first person has put me in a foul mood re UK

Last year was a bust beyond all expectations. (No, I didn’t really think 11-1 or even 8-4 was a remote possibility – that’s irrational.)

Connelly seems a little rosy about Mizzou but SEC reality next year will ground his expectations for ‘13. As to Kentucky, I fear he’s not far off. We will enter next year with marginal scoring talent (again), a cellar rated freshman class (again), major skill losses on both sides of the ball and can only look forward to another catchy slogan.

I’d continue but our football program and its direction has me eying sharp knives and cliffs with amorous thoughts.

I guess they’ve just sucked the life out of my ability to “fight about football”.

War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce

by hoboat33 on Jan 18, 2012 9:51 PM EST reply actions

Hey how about this slogan?

“Why Not?”

Hey, it’s better than “Rise”.

Making waves in a sea of blue.

by kywineman on Jan 18, 2012 11:15 PM EST up reply actions

Or more appropriately "I Think I Can - I Think I can"

A man is nothing more than a summation of his scars!

by KansasUKCat on Jan 19, 2012 4:27 AM EST up reply actions

More Food For Thought (Fight)

Going by numbers provided by Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal, Kentucky is one of nine BCS schools that have experienced more than a 10 percent drop in average football attendance since 2009.

Illinois has suffered the steepest decline, its football attendance down 16.8 percent from the ’09 season through this past season.

Kansas is next at 16.4 percent, followed by South Florida (15.2), Pittsburgh (13.9), Kentucky (13.8), UCLA (12.2), Southern Cal (11.8), Rutgers (10.9) and Purdue (10.4).

Illinois, Kansas, Pittsburgh and UCLA have all changed coaches since the end of last season.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/01/19/2033827/clay-big-blue-nation-not-football.html#storylink=cpy

I expect further decline this year.

"In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a revolutionary act." - George Orwell

by Wild Weasel on Jan 19, 2012 9:57 AM EST reply actions