Kentucky Wildcats Morning Quickies: Cole Mosier Edition

Really good article today in the Herald-Leader by Jen Smith, who writes about Cole Mosier, a walk-on who’s earned a starting spot and a scholarship. This is the kind of thing you love to see in college sports. Kyle Tucker has more on Moser at the Courier-Journal.

Tweet of the morning

I stand behind my statement: Cole Mosier is arguably one of the best, if not the best, walk-on in college football.

— Freddie Maggard (@FMaggard) September 25, 2014

Your Quickies:

Kentucky football

• The Kentucky scout team struggled a bit to properly simulate Vandy’s pro-set offense.

• Ira Coombs thinks Saturday is a "trap" game, and says that UK has historically fared poorly coming off a bye week.

• Can "The Boss" help motivate Patrick Towles this weekend?

• Should Mark Stoops’ success be judged by his record? Yes, of course, but not exclusively.

• Will of ASoB and Christian of Anchor of Gold debate the Vanderbilt-Kentucky game.

• If Kentucky loses on Saturday, it will set the record for conference futility. That’s a scary thought. We don’t need any more records of this sort.

Kentucky Basketball

• Mike Schmitz of Draft Express does an excellent video breakdown of Andrew Harrison:

  I think he’s spot on in every way. Andrew needs to be a more committed defensive player, take better shots, learn to probe the defense and improve his 3-point shooting (especially his confidence). Things like floor vision and explosiveness are just weaknesses he’ll have to learn to overcome by better positioning, smarter play, and a more intense focus on his teammates rather than trying to finish every play. He gets to the rim really well, but sometimes, you just can’t finish there. He has to learn to make better judgments earlier in the possession. There is no excuse for his lack of defensive effort or his pouting.

• Rene Cornette argues that Rex Chapman is just a man, not a "hero." I understand this, and she’s certainly right in most respects. However, whenever sports figures avail themselves of the increased popularity, visibility and credibility that inures from fan worship, it is only logical that those fans will abandon him, often angrily, when he falls from grace.

• Yes, John Calipari visited Antonio Blakeney yesterday, and it went very well. Louisville’s loss could be our gain. How well? Check it out:

  Antonio Blakeney RT @blakeney96 UK visit went well ✊ pic.twitter.com/eSphR3tmfr

  — Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) September 25, 2014

  
  

• Heh. Alex the Elevator:

Other UK sports

• Kentucky volleyball defeats LSU in the Bayou last night. Thanks to Jords for the preview and open game thread, and thank you all for your participation.

• Women’s soccer has a commitment from the class of 2017.

• Kentucky freshman Alexis Jennings talks about her game, post-practice:

Links post

• The Leach Report: Thursday Wildcat Links

• John Clay’s Big Blue Links

• John Clay’s SEC Links

• Rush The Court: Morning Five

College football

• College football conference power rankings from SB Nation. Not a lot of love for Kentucky there, but if UK continues to play well, that could change.

• Florida’s Will Muschamp sticks with struggling Jeff Driskel at quarterback. I’m sure that won’t be too popular in Gator country.

• Injuries testing Tennessee’s depth at receiver.

College basketball

• Bill Self weighs in on the Coach K-Team USA recruiting advantage debate, saying pretty much Bill Self things.

• Michigan State lands a 4-star shooter.

Other sports news

• "Tired" Phil Mickelson’s performance likely to be a crap shoot at the Ryder Cup Matches.

• Judge agrees with NCAA, won’t consolidate two anti-trust lawsuits currently moving through the federal court system.

• John Infante helps clarify the NCAA’s drug testing policy changes.

• Devon Still of the Cincinnati Benglals has a little girl undergoing surgery for pediatric cancer. Touching Instagram.

• The Bright Side of the Sun reports that Eric Bledsoe has signed a 5-year, $70 million dollar contract with Phoenix. Finally. Tom Ziller has more.

• Avery Williamson continuing to do what he does. If he had just one more year of eligibility, think of how good our defense could be. Consider:

  Williamson played 13 defensive snaps against the Bengals and made four tackles. He tackled Jeremy Hill for a two-yard loss, but it was another play that caught the eye of inside linebacker Wesley Woodyard, a fellow Kentucky alum. [My emphasis]

• Bill Simmons dares ESPN to suspend him for calling Roger Goodell a liar. ESPN obliged.

• In 43 years of playing golf, I’ve never had a hole-in-one. This 16 year-old girl had two — in one round!

Other news

• Saturday, you can take your unused, old prescription drugs back and safely dispose of them.

• Have you purchased a sub from Jimmy Johns using a credit card? If so, you may have a problem.

• Social Security is confiscating income tax returns to satisfy deceased relatives debt.

• Liam Neeson will look for you, he will find you, and he will kill you — wherever you are!

• One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble…