Armchair Quarterback

on November 18, 2008

. 0 Comments

My apologies to all the positive people. I am truly one of you, but I just can’t join you right now.

The reason being is that I’m writing this as the game plays and here it goes;

I mean 25-6 to begin the game? 14 turnovers in 15 minutes!? Patterson has 6 points in the first half!?!

Get him the ball!

Why is North Carolina’s bench on their feet and we’re on our butts? Every time?

I’m sorry for whining, but man, do I miss the Pitino days! Remember the bench in that era?! If you were the opponent you didn’t even want the ball on that end because they were all on their feet and VOCAL!

Little side note; when you’re down 25-6 , that’s the wrong time to convince your players to play defense, you do that before the tip.

25-6 at the 11:45 mark in the first half, we look uncoached, there is just no other word for it.

Patterson gets the ball finally after 7 minutes, and 7 turnovers in 7 minutes.

Quite honestly, we’re getting a clinic on how to play team ball. For example, UNC’s Ellington drove the lane and drew 4 UK defenders before dishing for an open shot that falls in.

Harris shouldn’t be handling the ball as much as he is.

Vitale said ‘there’s no excuse(Kentucky) losing to VMI at Rupp.’ I couldn’t agree more.

16 turnovers in 17 minutes.

Good block by Perry just now with 37.4 seconds left. He hasn’t played very bad.

Patterson has 6 points at the half.

Meeks is forcing some shots but at least he’s attacking the basket. He’s also not getting the calls, he’s been fouled several times and then there’s no call.

41-25 at the half.

Take away a 15-2 start and it would be a managable 3-point-game at the half.

Heard at the half;

Bilas makes a good point, ‘you cannot tell what Kentucky is trying to do offensively with the ball.’ I agree.

Digger Phelps (jerk) says ‘Kentucky won’t get going right the rest of the season. They have real issues at Kentucky.’

Knight says ‘there is nothing (Kentucky) they’re going to do to get this thing floating in the right direction.’

Erin Andrews said, she didn’t have to get close to hear Coach Gillispie in the locker room at the half. Hopefully there was instruction mixed in with the screaming.

Erin Andrews looks great. Better than I remember.

Second half;

Meeks hits a three to begin the second half.

Meeks almost threw down what would’ve been a nasty dunk, but was blocked.

Our best passer just might be Patrick Patterson. Great pass to Stevenson just now.

20 turnovers.

Harris just got called for a ‘BC’ offensive foul.

We trail 52-35 with 12:10 remaining in the game.

Just saw a flash of Tom Leach, he didn’t look happy either.

Patterson is 5-for-5 from the field. He shoots, he scores, get him the ball, duh!?!

We are missing chances here in the second half that could make this game close.

Ellington (freshman) is doing it all for UNC. Dunks on Patterson, hits a three.

Patterson is now 8-for-8 from the field.

We (Coach Gillispie this means you) have to find a way to slow it down and screen, pick, double screen, or anything, to get Patterson the ball.

We continue to waste opportunites to close the gap.

Patterson 0-for-3 the last two minutes.

At least Ashley Judd wore Kentucky blue. Did you have any doubt? I didn’t. I grew up next door to her aunt and uncle, true story.

Hi Don and Toddi!

28 turnovers – high school numbers.

More than 50 turnovers in TWO GAMES!!!!

I know we’re better than this. Right?

To the players, I love you and we’ll get’em next time.

Where’s Jesse Houk when you need a three?

Hey Tarheels, were #1 All-Time, but for how long

Published

on November 18, 2008

. 0 Comments

Question; What coach has the most all-time wins, in Division I college basketball history?

Rupp? Knight? Smith? The correct answer is Pat Summit, you sexist J (913 total).

For men, it is in fact, Bobby Knight, 880 total (I think).

But, we know basketball is not an individual sport, it’s a, say it with me, ‘TEAM SPORT! ‘That’s right kids!

So, what team has the most wins in Division I college basketball history? Say it with me true-blue fans ‘The University of Kentucky Wildcats!’ 1,966 wins and counting!

And just 14 wins behind us is tonight’s opponent, North Carolina – 1,952 wins. YIKES!

Kansas is 21 wins behind Kentucky, followed by Duke who is about 120 wins behind the Cats (as they should be) on the all-time-list.

I was a little down after the loss to VMI. I’m hoping we licked our wounds (albeit emotional), and we come out tonight (excuse my language here mom-o) a little ‘pissed off’ and ready to show a national audience that UNC desperately needed Hansbrough against the Cats.

Gillispie, smiling during his press conferences, is trying to keep his cool. You just know he wants to go in there and rip the ‘tar’ off those ‘heels’ tonight. To show everyone, the millions watching, that Kentucky tripped but didn’t fall Friday night.

You know that losing to VMI was not in his plans.

You know the critics are questioning his coaching ability.

You know that he KNOWS THEY ARE TOO! He even said, they ‘as a staff need to do a better job coaching.’

You know the players are anxious to prove that VMI was a one-hit wonder and a fluke.

You know Jodi and Patrick talked privately and said ‘never again do we lose to chumps as long as were both here’ – and then shaked on it.

So Friday was ‘upset Friday.’

Fine, today is ‘RedemptionTuesday.’

They only won by 9 last year, but they did do it in Rupp.

Hey basketball team here’s a motto that works really good for the football team – ‘Believe.’ That’s it. Believe you will win.

We beat #1 tonight and here’s the score;

UK 87

UNC 83

KENTUCKY BASKETBALL ; Not-so-good, we looked real bad, and we played awful ugly!

Published

on November 15, 2008

. 2 Comments

Billy G can recruit! But can he really coach?

I mean sure, he has the X’s and O’s, but does the message come out clear enough to the kids?

Do you remember last year and the weird sustitution patterns?

Can he coach?

I’m not joking.

Or being mean.

I am serious.

At no time time did we lead in this game, until the 4:47 mark in the second half. UGHH.

Think about it this way fans – at no time did Kentucky have a lead on VMI, until 5 minutes left, and even then not for long, and we are Kentucky at Rupp Arena hosting VMI!?!

YIKES!!!

Can Gillispie coach?

Seriously!

Or does he have to get ‘great recruits’ to make up for the lack of coaching?

Again, not being mean, or hateful, or acting angrily – but really?

I met Coach Gillispie right before I left for Iraq in June of 2007; and he was at Malone’s restaurant with his assistant’s, and I asked for an autograph.

He seemed bothered.

I would’ve been too. He just sat down and here’s another fan in his face asking him to sign something. I even beat the waiter to the table (pretty good customer service on my part). But he looked bothered by my request.

I’m sure he was. He probably signed 5000 autographs that day.

Welcome to Kentucky coach.

I was a little bothered myself that day though, having to go to war and all in less than a month, and leaving my pregnant wife behind.

So without really thinking I said, “Coach, don’t ever get upset if Kentucky fans ask for an autograph. Get upset when they stop asking for it.”

Ask Eddie Sutton. He knows what I’m saying.

I wasn’t trying to be rude then. I was just trying to give Coach a little different perspective.

I would LOVE to eat my words! I mean it.

I hope Gillispie and the Cats win a championship this year, and I have to write an article about what a great coach he is. Until then, we need to figure out a way to get past these darn Gardner-Webb’s and VMI’s of the world.

So why is it under Gillispie we never seem prepared (or motivated?) to play and beat the considered ‘gimme game teams, but we can beat the 5th ranked Vols?

Consider this;

We had 20 turnovers, and trailed by 23, at the 14:00 minute mark (remaining) of the second half, and ‘mighty VMI’ didn’t even have their best scorer!!!

Patrick Patterson was ignored in the offense (partly due to foul trouble) in the first half and didn’t get his first field goal until several minutes into the second half.

We looked like a team completely uninspired, and utterly convinced, that the name on the front of the jersey, would scare away the Keydets without any real effort on our part.

The last Kentucky team to scare opponents by just showing up was in 1996. You could literally see the expressions on the opponents faces that said, “Oh boy, here we go.” The game was over before the tip.

Kentucky Basketball 2008-2009 – 0 wins and 1 loss.

VMI did play and shoot incredibly well. Since they’re the future leaders of our military, here’s to hoping they can shoot a rifle as well as a three-pointer. We’ll be safe for years. Great win gentleman.

And to the Cats;

Time to go to Chapel Hill and face #1 UNC.

You know what, I bet we win, I really do.

By the way, Coach G did sign those autographs for me though, so thank you coach and Go Cats!

It can only go up from here.

5 reasons Kentucky needs to crush VMI, seriously

Published

on November 14, 2008

. 2 Comments

I know what you’re thinking. Why does Kentucky need to crush lowly Virginia Military Institute? These guys don’t have NBA aspirations. Why should Kentucky try and crush these young men, who after graduation go directly to the Officer Corps in the US military? These are our future Captains, Majors, Colonels, and maybe Generals one day.

Exactly. They are our future leaders! Don’t go easy on them, make them tough (hehe).

Here are your 5 reasons we NEED to crush VMI;

1. - These are future officers in the US Marine Corps and Army, so they don’t need to be coddled. Take it from me. I’m a Sergeant in the US Army, who just served a year in Baghdad. So I ask of you Kentucky basketball team, kick the crap out of VMI! The worse, the better. What doesn’t kill them only makes them stronger. Do it for your country Cats.

2. - Remember Gardner-Webb. We don’t need to be a feather in someone else’s cap.

3. - We proved under Gillispie last year we got up for big games (beat undefeated 16-0 and ranked #13 Vandy and #5 Tennessee in Rupp) but we struggled with the less meaningful games. See above. Remember, last year we started of 5-2 and then dropped 6 of our next 8 games. We have to prove (to ourselves) we are mentally ready for every game.

4. - This may be the only chance you’ll ever have to dunk on a future 4-star General!

And lastly,

5. - I had a real pain-in-the-you-know-what Lt. when I was in the Marines and you know where he graduated from? Yep, VMI. I would just love to sit back in my easy chair, with the Cats leading by 40 and hold up my drink, and salute the Cats on win #1 of the 2008-2009 season!

It’s no big deal, and please don’t tell Patrick Patterson, but the VMI players were clowning his haircut.

I love it Patrick. It’s you big guy.

Kentucky 101

VMI 77

Kentucky and Vandy is a MUST-WATCH game!

Published

on November 12, 2008

. 0 Comments

Well, here we go again, we’re about to play Vanderbilt AGAIN when they are on the cusp of bowl eligibility.

It gets scarier for Kentucky every time this happens too.

For example, in 1984 Jerry Claiborne and his Marc Logan/Bill Ransdell-led team spoiled the Commodore bid for a bowl game when they sent Vandy home 27-19. They went on to win the Hall of Fame bowl thanks to a late game interception by Steve Mazza.

And it continues….in 1999 Kentucky and Vandy both on the brink of bowl eligiblity with 5 wins a piece, play each other (each had 11 games on the regular season schedule then) and Kentucky led 19-17 with under 2 minutes to play when Vandy fumbles the ball, and the Cats run out the clock before going bowling for the first time in 6 years.

2005…a 2-win Kentucky team jumps on Vandy like a spider-monkey, a spider-monkey, in the first half 34-10 and Vandy never recovers. Losing 48-43 and again remain home with a 5-6 record. Spider-monkey!

And last year? Well, see the thing is this….Vandy again with 5 wins gets beat 27-20 by a very good Kentucky team.

The scary part for UK fans on Saturday night should be this; Vandy has to win to be bowl eligible. Kentucky is already bowl eligible and not (or are they?) as hungry.

Kentucky wins-cool. We’re 7-4.

Vandy wins-wow! We (them, not us) are finally bowl eligible since Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ hit stores !

Since Kim Carnes hit song ‘Bette Davis Eyes.’

Belushi’s drug overdose, Jordan hits the ‘shot’ against Georgetown, I got caught stealing M&M’s from Mr. Wiggs on Alexandria Dr. (now Krogers) – whatever, you get the point.

What I’m trying to say is that we better be on our game, because Vandy will be on their’s.

Final Score:

UK 31

Vandy 28

I hope……..

Open letter to Randall Cobb

Published

on November 10, 2008

. 3 Comments

Dear Randall,

I’m a UK football fan, and it made me really sad, to see your really sad picture in the paper. I know how you feel though.

You see Randall, I was in the stands when in 2004 Georgia came to ‘visit’ the Cats in Lexington and absolutely smashed the Cats 62-17. You were a freshman in high school then and your high school team won the state championship in football. We won the “Got the crap kicked out of us Award” then.

For me though, it was just plain humiliating to be a Wildcat fan that day.

Randall, the last time we played Georgia and I felt the same pain I felt yesterday, was in 1998, Tim Couch’s junior (and last) year.

Georgia again came to Lexington. We played Georgia tough all day. Play for play. The score was 28-26 and Georgia had the lead with seconds left on the clock. We (UK) lined up for a field goal. The snap was a little off and a kid (backup QB) named Matt Mumme fumbled the ball a little bit and before you know it the Georgia fans were celebrating. I don’t blame Matt for that. I just felt the pain of coming so close and then nothing. You were 8 years-old then.

Randall, what I’m getting at is that you were amazing! You played hard and so did the team. You kept us in the game. I can see you hate to lose. Probably because you’re not used to it. You played HS football four years and won four state titles.

Kentucky has gone to back-to-back bowl games. The first time that’s happened since the mid 80’s.

Think about this Randall, Randall Sr. and Tina, we may be going to a 3rd straight bowl game which hasn’t happened in over 50 years! Four years ago (2004 remember, UGA 62 - UK 17) the idea of Kentucky going to 3 bowl games in four years was probably as likely as the next president of the United States being a black guy, raised in Hawaii, by his white grandparents.

Hey, who knew?

Randall just keep working hard. On your grades and then on your football. We know the wins will come.

Just by watching you play as hard as you did Saturday, we know the wins will come.

And please, beat Tennessee. You would be the first QB to lead us to a win over Tennessee in football since, well, since before you were born.

Yours truly,

The Armchair QB

PS - Beat Vandy too.

Kentucky beats Georgia by 5, I think

Published

on November 7, 2008

. 1 Comment

I love watching those old NFL films, don’t you? The smoke (breathing really in freezing temperatures, but smoke sounds more vicious) pouring out of the mouths and nostrils of these mammoth warriors entangled in a combat only fitting of yesterdays great warriors. The voice describing the action was that deep, slow and drawn out narrorator, who always made the action titanical in it’s relevance to that moment in history.

You know what though, I’ll settle for Tom Leach belting out ‘touchdown Kentucky’ 6 or 7 times and # 14 ranked Georgia having a bad day (like they did last visit to Commonwealth stadium) and Kentucky rolling on to win #7.

It was at this moment last year, that Kentucky with the same win/loss record of 6-3, dropped two of their last three to close the regular season. Although they did rebound nicely to defeat a depleted (26 players were suspended by FSU for the game) Florida State team and win their second bowl-game in as many years.

The Cats need a great game out of the offense and an equally great game by the defense to pull out a win against the Dawgs. Notice I didn’t say a monumental effort, a mistake-free game, or the perfect game. Kentucky can match-up with Georgia very nicely on paper. Our big guys are the same size as their big guys. Position for position.

I charged the field snapping pictures with my girlfriend (now wife) after Kentucky beat Georgia in 2006. I get misty-eyed everytime I play that interception by Lindley to seal the win. Hey, don’t laugh ladies, your husband does too.

So while this may not be the titanical struggle only fitting for NFL films narraration it’s a huge game for the Cats and their dream of going to, ‘warmer bowl.’ I like it guys. Warmer, yes!

UK sports are my soap opera. Sorry.

Jacob Tamme shed tears after the win too-wanna make fun of that. I won’t. That was a proud Kentucky boy, emotional after a big win and realized the enormity it would have on all those younger Kentucky kids that grew up eating scoops of humble pie from the likes of Florida, Tennessee, and yes Georgia.

S0 I’ll close with a salute to Leonard (of the once popular Leonards Loser’s). “The Dawgs come barking into town with a 7-2 record and will recognize a familiar foe that has been dinner before. Only the last time they came to this ‘Cat den’ they ended up getting’ all scratched up by the fiesty felines. These Cats don’t like Dawgs in their yard.

Leonards Loser; Georgia by 5

Hey don’t forget to watch the Men’s basketball team play their final exhibition game tonight at 7pm as they take on Ouachita Baptist on FSN South. Kentucky by 46 in this one.

Derrick Ramsey vs. Randall Cobb

Published

on November 2, 2008

. 0 Comments

Before all of you tee-off on me like a titliest, on the tee of a long par 5, let me explain where I’m going with this first.

Derrick was 6′5, 235 and strong, fast, and tough. Randall is almost 6′0, really fast, tough, and strong in several areas, to include but certainly not limited to, throwing, catching, running. He’s another Michael Vick type athlete, without the dogs.

Ramsey is arguably the most successful field general to ever take a snap in a Kentucky uniform. Did you know Ramsey also played on the UK basketball team?

Some of his wins, if they happened today, would be overwhelming to UK fans. 22-6 over Penn State, 28-9 over Florida, 7-0 over Tennessee in Knoxville, and a bowl win over N. Carolina. All of these in 1976.

Then in 1977 it got even better. Beating Penn State again 24-20, 33-13 over LSU in Baton Rouge, Georgia got smacked around 33-0 in Athens by the truly Wildcats! Does anyone remember the ‘Leonard sightings’ after that win - or even what that was about?

Florida? Nah. They got beat again too. 14-7 UK wins at the Swamp.

Tennessee, for the second year in a row, bowed down to the Cats 21-17.

Final record for Kentucky 10-1, and ranked #6 overall. And Derrick? He went on to win a Superbowl with the Raiders as a tight end. He actually made two trips to the Superbowl, 1 with the Raiders and 1 with the Patriots.

To Randall Cobb’s credit, in his first start at QB as a true freshman, wins an SEC game on the road, and was partially responsible for both scores.

Who was the last true freshman to start at UK and do that? Seriously. I don’t know readers, help me out.

What I do know is that this kid is only going to get better and better - if he wants it bad enough.

To really match-up to Derrick, we’ll just have to wait and see. He’s going to have to get the quality wins that Ramsey did though, to make the comparison legitimate.

Ransdell came close but didn’t win enough big games. Couch didn’t do it. Lorenzen, Boyd, Bonner, Maggard, Pookie, etc, etc, etc……..

Ramsey didn’t lose. Still doesn’t. He’s the new Athletic Director at Coppin State.

Randall is the new QB at Kentucky, here’s to hoping he’ll outshine what Ramsey did, in a Wildcat uniform.

You heard it here first: Cats 27- Dogs 17

Published

on October 31, 2008