First Down Kentucky: Cold Weather Football
College football and the NFL aren’t so different, yet their postseasons are set in significantly different backdrops. College football gets the sunset in warm Pasadena. The NFL plays on a frozen tundra.
Beers were freezing before they could be drank in Kansas City. Patrick Mahomes’ helmet was falling apart, too fragile for the frigid temperatures. Buffalo delayed their playoff game a day, and folks are still having to do this to be able to watch their Bills.
They also are getting to celebrate in extraordinary fashion. Turns out the subzero elements actually can be fun.
Bowl games were created as a reward for programs, inviting teams to a warm weather city to compete in an exhibition game. They will still exist in 2024 and beyond, but it is all changing next fall. A sold out crowd for a CFB Playoff game may have to dig their way through snow to get to a game.
The new 12-team Playoff will open with teams hosting first round games at home. The games will be played earlier in the calendar, most likely the week after Army-Navy in mid-December. That’s still early enough for snow in Big Ten stadiums in Ann Arbor and Iowa City, providing homefield advantage against a warm-weather team from the South. The advantage may not be as tilted as what we saw between Miami and Kansas City, but cold-weather football is coming to the college postseason next fall. Prepare accordingly.
Pure Joy for Detroit Football Fans
The daily grind in the multi-billion sports industry can make one lose sight of what’s at the heart of it all, the art of competition. It brings out the worst, and the best in people. We saw the latter Sunday night.
The long-suffering Lions fans experienced pain and turmoil, year and year after year. For older Kentucky football fans, it’s a sentiment we know all too well. After knocking on the door time and time again, Detroit fans finally exorcised decades-old demons, unleashing euphoria all around Ford Field. The images from the celebration were heartwarming.
NBC is Disgusting
It was one thing to foist America into signing up for Peacock to watch Patrick Mahomes play football. It’s even more disgusting when you congratulate yourself for a job well done. As David Ubben said, “This is not that far from the government congratulating itself for collecting the most taxes ever.”
The Peacock commercial-viewing experience provided very little value. I’d willingly accept commercial breaks on regular television, allowing me time to flip to another station. I don’t need a shivering Tony Dungy spitting out two lines of analysis to fill time.
Speaking of commercials, NBC laid it on extra thick Sunday night in Detroit. At one point they went commercial + kickoff + commercial + three and out + punt + commercial. Whatever the opposite of a gift is, that’s what NBC is to the sport of football this weekend.
An Interesting Kentucky Football Playoff Connection
Mike Edwards logged an interception in the Kansas City victory over Miami. One guy on the other sideline is another familiar face, linebacker David Long. Vince Marrow gave a shout out to the former Winton Woods Warriors on social media. That message was directed to two players from the Cincinnati high school in the 2025 recruiting class.
Kentucky’s lead recruiter is pursuing IOL Raphael Greene and EDGE Justin Hill. The Cats are in the top five for the 6-foot-6, 320-pounder whose first offer was from Marrow. Hill is a Top 200 prospect that recently picked up an offer from Ohio State, never a good sign for the Cats. Nevertheless, I expect both juniors to be on Kentucky’s campus this spring.
Kentucky could really use this guy next year
“Making progress.” Jaremiah Anglin shared that message on Sunday following a rehab session in Lexington. The hard-hitter also known as Grady Judd underwent knee surgery prior to his true freshman season. He is one of three four-star freshmen lining up at safety next fall. Kentucky’s best defenses have hard hitters swatting passes in space and lowering their shoulders to make tackles in the box. Kentucky needs one of Anglin, Avery Stuart or Quaysheed Scott to make an impact in 2024.
Discuss This Article
Comments have moved.
Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.
KSBoard