First I want to say this game was a tight game played by 2 evenly matched teams. Maybe the refs missed a hold on the last drive, but they also missed a motion by UK's right tackle on the goal line when Shell scored after it was replayed a couple of times, it was as blatant as any hold they missed on either team, which they can call every play.
SEC East has at least 5 teams who are fairly evenly matched and could play each other consecutive Saturdays and have a different winner each week, heck maybe the entire division might be that way. There is no team that anyone can say is clearly better than all the others.. Last night UGA was ahead when it ended, we play again next Saturday UK could easily be ahead when it ended,
It is indeed quite remarkable how the east is really anybody's to grab. I mean look what Mizzou did a few years back, and look at Vandy who was competitive under franklin and is really tough as nails now, and UK until last night was in a position to maybe go to Atlanta should we win out and Fla lose to LSU.
Things do seem to boil down do the last quarter or even who has the ball last, and that is where the talent gap shows up.
Even though it might not be obvious in the final score or even stat lines, it shows up in crunch time, it shows up in the final result.
UK and UGA may seem pretty even overall this year because UGA is by all accounts down and has been for a couple years while UK has been slowly ascending in terms of recruiting. However, it is still very apparent, especially on defense, that UK just doesn't have the playmakers, athletes, and depth.
UGA was able to sack up near the end and not let one of the better rushing attacks in the conference in for 6.
UK's D gave way to a game winning drive.
Those are the types of situations that really tell you where your program is. Yes, UK is on the uptick and was riding a pretty good wave of momentum, but UGA even with a new coach during a transition period was able to make a stand and then go on a drive when it counted.
I mean Eason picked us apart like he was a veteran, 4-4. I thought our secondary was supposed to be a bright spot this year with big, athletic corners. They were burned with basically the same play, and everybody knew it was coming that last possession, because it's a pretty tried n true strategy for that situation. Dink left, dunk right, and a couple pretty straight forward runs. UGA staff was not going to have Eason throw bombs or do anything complex.
I was riding the high like everyone else with the success the past few weeks, but that last drive brought everything back into focus.
Against an upper echelon program, even though they are having a down year, UK was out played, out athleted, and out coached when it mattered most.
