It's a big game coming up this week end. Soon, UKEric will no doubt give us his usual insightful rundown on the game along with his score prediction. I, for one, always look forward to reading his careful analysis of the teams' strength and weaknesses and how they compare with each other.
I want to look at something a little different: Emotional energy. And I'm not speaking of that surface kind of emotion which is drummed up by cheer leaders even when a team is down 40-0 in the 4th qtr, but instead, that inner fire which players bring to a game.
In Saturday's game I believe UK has a decided advantage in this area. And here's why:
1. UGA already has 4 conference losses, one of which was to Vandy. They have 0% of winning the East, and even if they were to win at Commonwealth this Saturday they have to face a rejuvenated Auburn team from the West next week, a game Georgia is unlikely to win...so they are looking at a likely 3-5 conference record, IF they beat us. On the other hand, we have an opportunity to win the East for the first time since divisions were put in. Our guys will have more deep emotion with such a lofty goal within reach...while Georgia has no possibility of attaining such a goal. Emotional Advantage: UK
2. We have won 5 of the last 6. The Dawgs have lost 4 of the last 5. They are trending down. We are trending up. These trends create either internal fire or internal apprehension. Georgia comes in with a lot of internal self-doubt; UK enters believing they can and will conquer. Emotional advantage: UK
3. Georgia lost a heartbreaker against Tennessee on their home turf. I still remember the gut punch we felt when LSU threw the miracle hail Mary at Commonwealth when Morris was our coach. Such defeats take a lot of wind out of your emotional sails. On the other hand, Kentucky won in similar fashion against Ms. State with a last second 51 yrd. FG. Those victories refuel your emotional tank and make you believers. Emotional Advantage: UK
4. We are still the underdogs, both in Vegas and by most of the Sports prognosticators. We have responded very will to this. It adds to the determination to prove everyone wrong. On the other hand, it tends to lull a team like Georgia into taking us with less seriousness than they should. They are getting ready to experience what a fired-up UK offensive line feels like, and I don't think they will be able to muster up the emotion to match us. Emotional Advantage: UK
5. Finally. It is a home game. Our crowd will be loud and raucous...similar to the game against South Carolina when JoJo wildcatted us to victory. In that game the crowd fired up a suspect UK defense and we made the big play on D, and then gut punched them with the Wildcat. Not sure how our coaches will game plan the Offense for this game, but I think the home crowd will feed the fire inside our team and deflate the emotion of the Dawgs. Emotional Advantage: UK
I want to look at something a little different: Emotional energy. And I'm not speaking of that surface kind of emotion which is drummed up by cheer leaders even when a team is down 40-0 in the 4th qtr, but instead, that inner fire which players bring to a game.
In Saturday's game I believe UK has a decided advantage in this area. And here's why:
1. UGA already has 4 conference losses, one of which was to Vandy. They have 0% of winning the East, and even if they were to win at Commonwealth this Saturday they have to face a rejuvenated Auburn team from the West next week, a game Georgia is unlikely to win...so they are looking at a likely 3-5 conference record, IF they beat us. On the other hand, we have an opportunity to win the East for the first time since divisions were put in. Our guys will have more deep emotion with such a lofty goal within reach...while Georgia has no possibility of attaining such a goal. Emotional Advantage: UK
2. We have won 5 of the last 6. The Dawgs have lost 4 of the last 5. They are trending down. We are trending up. These trends create either internal fire or internal apprehension. Georgia comes in with a lot of internal self-doubt; UK enters believing they can and will conquer. Emotional advantage: UK
3. Georgia lost a heartbreaker against Tennessee on their home turf. I still remember the gut punch we felt when LSU threw the miracle hail Mary at Commonwealth when Morris was our coach. Such defeats take a lot of wind out of your emotional sails. On the other hand, Kentucky won in similar fashion against Ms. State with a last second 51 yrd. FG. Those victories refuel your emotional tank and make you believers. Emotional Advantage: UK
4. We are still the underdogs, both in Vegas and by most of the Sports prognosticators. We have responded very will to this. It adds to the determination to prove everyone wrong. On the other hand, it tends to lull a team like Georgia into taking us with less seriousness than they should. They are getting ready to experience what a fired-up UK offensive line feels like, and I don't think they will be able to muster up the emotion to match us. Emotional Advantage: UK
5. Finally. It is a home game. Our crowd will be loud and raucous...similar to the game against South Carolina when JoJo wildcatted us to victory. In that game the crowd fired up a suspect UK defense and we made the big play on D, and then gut punched them with the Wildcat. Not sure how our coaches will game plan the Offense for this game, but I think the home crowd will feed the fire inside our team and deflate the emotion of the Dawgs. Emotional Advantage: UK
