Nothing quite like early November when UK football is frolicking toward a post season bowl and Big Blue basketball hears the welcome news of a No. 2 preseason AP ranking.
This is just the tease.
BBN fans should have Lexington malls ching-chinging, the hotels at capacity and the restaurants hopping as Mark Stoops’ Cats eye a bowl-qualifying upset win over Georgia on Saturday. Sandwiched around that will be an exhibition game for John Calipari’s Cats on Sunday against Asbury.
Yes, the Chamber of Commerce calendar welcomes weekends like this.
But you gotta produce on the other end.
Start with UK football fans filling the 61,000-seat CWS for the first time since it was rejuvenated with $120 million last year. I don’t want to hear any more complaints about the product not meeting price of admission. Don’t want to hear you complaining about parking passes. Don’t want to hear about uninspired play on the field. Or lack of imagination from coaching staff.
No, these Cats are resilient. They have fought off early disappointments (yes, Southern Miss is no classy lady), and were close to (but not quite) being embarrassed by Top Ten foes Florida and No. 1 Alabama. Winners of 3 straight SEC games, UK now proudly claims the No.2 spot in the SEC East standings with a 4-2 mark and an overall record of 5-3. As you can see, the future is not next year. It is now.
Georgia opened as a 2.5-pts favorite, but the 4-4 Dogs have struggled much of season. When Georgia is winning, it is steamrolling opponents on the ground. Its passing game would have a difficult time qualifying for junior high playoffs. UK, in some ways, mirrors Georgia with a so-so passing game, but it’s still a grade above the guys from Athens.
Against Missouri last week, UK’s rushing attack (to you Stephen, Boom & Benny) mauled the Missouri defense into submission. Wouldn’t be surprised if some of those Tiger defensive players are still in the whirlpool. Of course, center Jon Tote and his offensive line opened holes large enough even for Vince Marrow to skip through.
Eliminating turnovers seems to be one of the few depressing issues for UK. Stop those (a minus 11 on season) and I believe UK is in for a big win.
So, Big Blue Nation, can you (or will you) back up your talk? The Cats have responded in the way you wanted. Now, it’s your turn. You do it with filling the stadium. The entire stadium. And staying to the end. We’ll be watching.
+ + +
The “iffen” game. Why not play it now.
Florida needs to lose 2 of its last 3 SEC games. Gators are on the road at Arkansas this weekend. After entertaining South Carolina at home, Florida will then travel to LSU. Anyone loving a little “Razorback” about now?
If Gators lose 2 and UK can upset both Georgia & Tennessee, then guess who’s going to dinner in ole Atlanta the first week of December?
With that scenario, UK finishes with a 6-2 SEC record which would claim the SEC East Division championship and a trip to Catlanta. Is this a stretch? Perhaps. But why not dream big this one time. However, Georgia is all that’s on my mind right now.