Gonna have to close down…

Sorry everyone.  I just don’t have time to maintain this blog, like I expected.  I hope you all have enjoyed the info that I’ve shared, though.

Thanks!

UK Football Notes

Here are a few notes from the Nutter Center.

• Lones Seiber has retained his kicking job after another week of competition.  I’m going to assume that he has compromising pictures of Rich Brooks as blackmail.
• Derrick Locke had surgery on his knee.  Things aren’t looking good for a return next season.
• Ryan Mossakowski suffered a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.  He’s going to miss spring baseball and get ready for football next season.  Mossakowski will be in Lexington this weekend for the Georgia game.
• Redshirt freshman Jake Lanefski will be starting at right guard this weekend, after the injury to Jess Beets.
• Morgan Newton will join Mossakowski and other recruits on campus this weekend.
• David Sims, Alshon Jeffrey and several other important prospects will be in for official visits this weekend.  Sims has told reporters in recent weeks that UK and Georgia Tech are options 1A and 1B.

Successful Debut — Woodyard

Wesley Woodyard, the former all conference linebacker at Kentucky made his first start last night for the Denver Broncos.  The Broncos defense has been rocked by injury and Woodyard was the beneficiary.

In Denver’s 34-30 win over Cleveland, Woodyard registered 10 solo tackles.  Not surprising for Kentucky fans. 

Good luck to Wesley the rest of the way.

Bobby Perry’s Expressions on Tubby

I’m not sure how I feel about these comments.  I think that Tubby Smith could have been a great coach at Kentucky had he made the most of it.  Instead, it appeared he wanted UK to be a mid-major.  That’s water under the bridge now, but check out his motivational tactics according to one of his former player, Bobby Perry.

During the four years I played under Coach Smith he let us know that it was his “livelihood and the lively of the assistant coaches also.”  And I do not doubt it is college coaches’ lively hood.  I understand this is their job and someone has to do the job.  But people these “student-athletes” aren’t working for fortune 500 companies.  While I was at the University of Kentucky Tubby Smith was getting Paid $2,500,000 a year.  I was getting paid a whopping $15,000 a year for my tuition.  Something doesn’t add up here.  By no means am I advocating “student-athletes” get paid anymore than their college tuition but by god when you are getting paid 2.5 million a year how can you have the nerve to say that this is your livelihood and I’m responsible for it.

This doesn’t paint Tubby in a very good light.  Many of the things that have come out since his departure make him look worse.  The fact that he left and didn’t make any effort to talk to his players who were seniors the same season he left makes me curious about his relationship with the players.  Gillispie stayed in contact with Acie Law after he left A&M.  

I know all coaches are different, but it just seems that Smith used UK as a means to an end. 

We as Cat fans can thank goodness that Smith is no longer walking the sidelines on Cawood Court.

UK vs Georgia

Kentucky fans may be on a bit of a high these days.  While the team has been disappointing offensively, they have been outstanding for the most part on defense and they’ve qualified for their third consecutive bowl. 

This is a goal that the Wildcats came into the season with.  It’s a big step as a program and a stepping stone for the future.

However, as the saying goes, the future is now.  Kentucky has Georgia this weekend in Commonwealth Stadium.  Georgia comes in licking their wounds after a throttling at the hands of the Florida Gators.  Georgia has been a mild disappointment this season.  They were expected to be the class of the SEC, but it appears they are no better than third on the totum poll behind Florida and Alabama.

The Bulldogs will come into this game looking to make a statement early, much like Florida did against Kentucky in Gainesville two weeks ago.  Kentucky will have to guard against the deep ball.  Georgia is the type of offense that comes in and jabs you with the run game and just when you think you’ve got them bottled up they hit you with the uppercut — the deep ball.

Matt Stafford is one of the top quarterbacks in the nation, and Knowshon Moreno is the best back in the SEC.  With Massaquoi and AJ Green as deep threats, the Bulldogs can knock out an opponent with the big plays.

Kentucky has to get pressure on Stafford with the front four and find opportunistic situations to blitz.  Stafford is a pocket passer, and Kentucky’s defensive front four is among the best in the SEC.  The Wildcats should be able to pressure Stafford and if they can pressure him into tough throws, there’s a chance the Wildcats can force turnovers.

Offensively, Georgia isn’t a juggernaut.  They are in the bottom half of the conference in several major categories.  Kentucky’s offense is also in the bottom half of the conference in several major categories.  Kentucky will have to open the offense up and make plays that they don’t normally make to win this game. 

Special teams and field position will be big keys for Rich Brooks’ squad.

Prediction – Georgia 20 Kentucky 7

Lucas to Transfer

UK recruited Jai Lucas almost as hard as they recruited Patrick Patterson in the 2007 class.  He would have been a welcomed addition to the Wildcat roster last season, as the Cats didn’t have a true point guard.

Lucas has now decided that Florida isn’t the best option for him.  He’ll be transferring to another program.  Speculation puts him back in the Big 12 conference.  Maybe Oklahoma or Oklahoma State.

Daniel Orton News

Daniel Orton, the five-star center committed to the Wildcats, had knee surgery on Monday to repair torn cartilage.

It appears that Orton may be out for 4-5 months. This is the same knee that Orton has had trouble with in the past. If that time table is correct, Orton will miss his entire senior season, which is unfortunate for a player his caliber.

“He’s a little down about everything right now, but he’ll get through it,” Carolyn Orton (his mother) said.

Orton will be signing with Kentucky next week, when the early signing period begins.

News and Notes Recruiting and Otherwise

Here are your news and notes for the day.  Bad news first.

• Studly quarterback Ryan Mossakowski is out for the season with an injured shoulder according to the Courier Journal’s Jody Demling.  The four star quarterback had throw for over 1300 yards and 15 touchdowns through five games.
• Small forward Justin Martin committed to Louisville yesterday over offers from Kentucky, Xavier and several other programs.  Martin is a teammate of 2010 commitment Dominque Ferguson.
• Jeff Drummond on The Cats Pause is reporting that Kentucky will receive visits from two Ohio juniors this weekend.  Jude Adjei-barimah, a corner and Quintin Jones a defensive tackle, will both be on campus for the Georgia game.
• According to Brian Eldridge on the Kentucky Sports Report, Larvez Mars is still considering Kentucky.  At this time, South Florida is his leader.  The four star safety was recently named an Army All-American.
• Eldridge is also reporting that Kentucky has made contact with Darrius McMullin, a Vandy commit, about visiting.  McMullin is a defensive tackle from Hoover Alabama.

Best Picture I’ve Seen Regarding UK Defense

 

Thanks to lilcatsfan06 on The Cats Pause for this picture.

UK vs UMSL

After all the hype surrounding this edition of the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team, there was finally a chance to see them on the court against outside competition.

The Wildcats didn’t fail to impress.

Led by junior guard Jodie Meeks 27 points, the Wildcats dominated, winning 111 to 53 in Rupp Monday evening.  Patrick Patterson also contributed his part with 24 points and 11 rebounds.  Newcomers Josh Harrellson and Darius Miller also showed their games with 21 and 14 points respectively.

Forward AJ Stewart was unavailable due an apparently rules violation, so he didn’t play.

Kentucky ran the floor, played intense defense and rebounded the ball with authority.  The players showed a kind of excitement and passion not seen in Rupp in several years. 

Billy Gillispie seemed pleased with the performance as well. 

“I really did like what I saw even with the mistakes. We are much further along than I had anticipated at this point.”

Wildcat fans liked it as well.