Wow...the game has been over for about an hour now. I think my heart rate is still about double of what it usually is. A HUGE thanks to the team and staff for an enjoyable afternoon of college football!!!! A few thoughts on the game;
*Stephen Johnson. A few weeks ago, one of you started a thread asking if Johnson was our QB of the future. I said not yet. Well, I think the question answered itself today. When I did the breakdown this week, I said this game was on his shoulders. And oh my, did he come through. Johnson totaled over 400 rush/pass yards while throwing the football better than he has all season long. He even completed the seam route to Conrad (OK, it was tipped...LOL). WHAT A GAME from Johnson. He put the team on his shoulders today!
*Kentucky's WR's. The running backs have carried this team all season. Today, the WR's stepped up. After a shaky first quarter, they played great! G. Johnson looked like the guy we thought we'd see all season. Baker made an incredible catch near the sideline in the endzone. This group could be among the nations best in 2017 IF they develop some consistency.
*Eddie Gran. Wow! The man called a great game. He threw the kitchen sink at U of L. And the bathtub (LOL)! I absolutely loved how he answered U of L's opening bomb with a bomb of his own. Perfect!!!!!
*The offense didn't play a perfect 2nd half, but they were awfully damned close. The Snell fumble is about the only thing that kept their 2nd half performance from approaching perfection. How about the long, sustained drives? I didn't see that coming!
*Austin MacGinnis. Dude is absolutely amazing. The long kick against State with a bum leg. Today, he drills a 47-yard game winner in the biggest game of his life! He should be on some preseason All-American lists next season.
*The defense faced a brutal task today, and they passed with flying colors. Yeah, they gave up a lot of yards. I figured UK would need 45 to win. Well, I was wrong. They only needed 39 (LOL)! The "D" forced four turnovers and had 3-4 sacks. Give U of L credit for making plenty of plays. Give our defense just as much credit for making plays of their own.
*Jordan Jones. Like I say every week, I love watching this kid play football.
*How about Mike Edwards? He was in on a sack. He had two INT's including the one in the 3rd quarter that, IMO, flipped the game in UK's favor. A HUGE game for Edwards! Marcus McWilson also came up huge!!!!!
*Denzil Ware. I thought he played the edge about as well as you can against Lamar Jackson.
*Overall, UK had EIGHT tackles for loss. U of L only had four.
*Speaking of Lamar Jackson, I think today cost him the Heisman. Time will tell, but four turnovers against your arch rival as a four TD favorite isn't how you want to finish the season. Combine today's loss with the Houston game, and I think Jackson probably loses out to the QB from Oklahoma (or Clemson).
*If Kentucky wins their bowl game, I think they'll have a shot to be listed in some preseason top 25 polls next summer. Not only does UK return most of their key guys, but they have the fewest number of seniors in college football.
*Last, but certainly not least, congrats to Mark Stoops. Long time UK fans know what Kentucky head coaches have to endure. This has been a tough job for a LONG time. Stoops has come in and steadily righted the ship. Last seasons meltdown seriously shook my confidence in Stoops. IMO, this season went much more smoothly in comparison. Today's win combined with the new practice facility should work wonders on the recruiting trail!!!!
Great game today! Couldn't be happier for the Cats, the staff, and our fans!
GBB!!!
*Stephen Johnson. A few weeks ago, one of you started a thread asking if Johnson was our QB of the future. I said not yet. Well, I think the question answered itself today. When I did the breakdown this week, I said this game was on his shoulders. And oh my, did he come through. Johnson totaled over 400 rush/pass yards while throwing the football better than he has all season long. He even completed the seam route to Conrad (OK, it was tipped...LOL). WHAT A GAME from Johnson. He put the team on his shoulders today!
*Kentucky's WR's. The running backs have carried this team all season. Today, the WR's stepped up. After a shaky first quarter, they played great! G. Johnson looked like the guy we thought we'd see all season. Baker made an incredible catch near the sideline in the endzone. This group could be among the nations best in 2017 IF they develop some consistency.
*Eddie Gran. Wow! The man called a great game. He threw the kitchen sink at U of L. And the bathtub (LOL)! I absolutely loved how he answered U of L's opening bomb with a bomb of his own. Perfect!!!!!
*The offense didn't play a perfect 2nd half, but they were awfully damned close. The Snell fumble is about the only thing that kept their 2nd half performance from approaching perfection. How about the long, sustained drives? I didn't see that coming!
*Austin MacGinnis. Dude is absolutely amazing. The long kick against State with a bum leg. Today, he drills a 47-yard game winner in the biggest game of his life! He should be on some preseason All-American lists next season.
*The defense faced a brutal task today, and they passed with flying colors. Yeah, they gave up a lot of yards. I figured UK would need 45 to win. Well, I was wrong. They only needed 39 (LOL)! The "D" forced four turnovers and had 3-4 sacks. Give U of L credit for making plenty of plays. Give our defense just as much credit for making plays of their own.
*Jordan Jones. Like I say every week, I love watching this kid play football.
*How about Mike Edwards? He was in on a sack. He had two INT's including the one in the 3rd quarter that, IMO, flipped the game in UK's favor. A HUGE game for Edwards! Marcus McWilson also came up huge!!!!!
*Denzil Ware. I thought he played the edge about as well as you can against Lamar Jackson.
*Overall, UK had EIGHT tackles for loss. U of L only had four.
*Speaking of Lamar Jackson, I think today cost him the Heisman. Time will tell, but four turnovers against your arch rival as a four TD favorite isn't how you want to finish the season. Combine today's loss with the Houston game, and I think Jackson probably loses out to the QB from Oklahoma (or Clemson).
*If Kentucky wins their bowl game, I think they'll have a shot to be listed in some preseason top 25 polls next summer. Not only does UK return most of their key guys, but they have the fewest number of seniors in college football.
*Last, but certainly not least, congrats to Mark Stoops. Long time UK fans know what Kentucky head coaches have to endure. This has been a tough job for a LONG time. Stoops has come in and steadily righted the ship. Last seasons meltdown seriously shook my confidence in Stoops. IMO, this season went much more smoothly in comparison. Today's win combined with the new practice facility should work wonders on the recruiting trail!!!!
Great game today! Couldn't be happier for the Cats, the staff, and our fans!
GBB!!!
