Let the Players Play

Kentucky Running Back Benny Snell

• Sophomore running back Benny Snell rushed six times for 15 yards and one touchdown.
• Snell finished the season with 1,333 rushing yards, most by a sophomore in school history.
• Snell has 2,424 rushing yards in his career, currently eighth in school history.
• Finished the year with school records for most rushing touchdowns in a season (19) and career (32).
• Finished the season with a school record 116 points.
• 194 points in his career, moving past Craig Yeast (192 points) for seventh place on the UK career scoring list.
• First Team All SEC.

Northwestern Linebacker Paddy Fisher

• Freshman finished the Music City Bowl with 3 tackles and 1 tackle for loss.
• Led all FBS first year players with 110 tackles, 62 solo.
• Big Ten Freshman Defensive Player of the Year.
• All-Big Ten.
• First Team Freshman All American.

Hard working Kentucky and Northwestern fans paid a bunch of money to watch two of the better football players in the country put on a show in a postseason exhibition game in Nashville, otherwise known as the Music City Bowl. Both the Blue and Purple Wildcat Nations were disappointed after Benny Snell and Paddy Fisher were erroneously ejected from the contest. I felt cheated that I didn’t get to watch 60-minutes of Snell vs. Fisher. On-field player safety is paramount. That should always be the case. However, both calls that sent the superstars to the locker room were questionable at best. No, just plain inexplicable. Fisher’s tackle was textbook. But apparently my opinion of a form tackle is now a foul. You can read all about the Snell incident all over Kentucky Sports Radio.com and the rest of the internets but you may want to tune into the Depth Chart Podcast as I plan on unleashing an uncensored opinion from the vantage point I had from the field. I have a different take on bowl games than most. I feel the exhibitions are rewards for the fans first and should be treated as such. Friday’s game was less enjoyable due to the most disjointed exhibition of officiating that I’ve ever seen in person. I am not a part of the Music City Bowl; at all. I didn’t play, coach, officiate, keep stats, or have any official capacity other than flapping my gums on the radio. But, I’d like to apologize to fans that spent money to watch stars play; not sit in the locker room. Let’s talk about the game now; if I can. I have the upmost respect for the Northwestern Wildcats. Pat Fitzgerald is an impressive man and leader of student-athletes. NU players were respectful before, during, and after the game which was a reflection of their head coach. Sure, things occasionally got heated on the field, but that’s football. The Big Ten Cats played hard; hats off to the Music City Bowl champions. The ejected Paddy Fisher is the best freshman linebacker in America. Running back Justin Jackson was special as expected. Heartfelt prayers for QB Clayton Thorson who was injured on a throw-back play. On-field sportsmanship and respect between the games participants were honorable for the most part. I will now follow Northwestern and hope to see Fitzgerald’s team experience continued success. But, as you can read above, Kentucky star running back Benny Snell was taken off the field by an official’s interpretation of unintentional contact with a referee. At that point, the game fell on the broken shoulders and wobbly legs of the toughest UK quarterback in recent memory-Stephen Johnson. Respect. However, we have to go there again. Enter the White Hat. Johnson was driven off the playing field and tackled five yards out of bounds. Instead of a personal foul on its opponent, the play resulted in a 15-yard penalty against Kentucky, which took it out of field goal position. The play was live. An injured player was laying on the ground five yards out of bounds. The play should have stopped in order to protect the quarterback, but the clock continued to roll. You know, the primary role of the White Hat is to protect the quarterback. That did not happen. Johnson was taken to the locker room. His game was apparently over. Attrition and strong running by NU RB Justin Jackson led to a 7-17 halftime deficit for Mark Stoops. https://twitter.com/YahooDrSaturday/status/946880865472303114 Johnson heroically returned to the huddle in the second half to lead a valiant comeback and was a failed two-point conversion short of winning the football game. WR Tavin Richardson played the game of his career with 5 catches for 89-yards. I can’t properly communicate how difficult Johnson’s second half task was due to the Wildcat’s void at running back. With no run threat, the second half was essentially a 7 vs. 11 contest. Linebackers didn’t have to honor the run and immediately dropped to pass defense positions. Defensive linemen were free of run-defense responsibilities and pinned their ears back to rush the quarterback on downs 1-4. For the most part, UK’s senior quarterback performed at an extremely high level in spite of injury. Johnson finished the game 19-36, 257-yards, and 2 rushing touchdowns. There were three dropped passes and a Johnson pick-six. I said the offense’s game was gallant, not perfect. The Kentucky defense played its guts out in the second half. It did not allow a touchdown as NU scored on a pick-six. True freshman OLB Josh Paschal filled in nicely for the suspended Denzil Ware. Josh Allen did Josh Allen things. NT Tymere Dubose played like the defensive lineman I projected years back on National Signing Day. Cornerback Derrick Baity broke up 4 passes. His running mate Chris Westry blanketed receivers. Safety Darius West run and pass blitzed his way to accumulate 11 tackles. Senior linebacker Courtney Love battled in his last game and racked up 10 stops. Credit defensive coordinator Matt House. Kentucky bent, but did not break and held the Purple Wildcats to 8-points under it scoring average. It stopped NU 1/5 times on 4^th down. As for the 2-point conversion decision. I absolutely loved it. Remember, bowls are exhibition games for the fans. Why not roll the dice and finish the improbable comeback win with :37 remaining on the clock? Fans have called for aggressive play calling. That happened. This same decision is annually made in the postseason. Johnson’s pass fell incomplete. Kentucky lost the game on the scoreboard but won back respect from a portion the Big Blue Nation. It sure as heck earned my admiration. While Eddie Gran’s offensive game plan was thrown out of the Nissan Stadium window when Snell exited the playing surface, his side of the football displayed tremendous tenacity by running 61 plays and totaling 338-yards against a very good defense.

What’s Next?

Got to replace this guy. I love this dude for many reasons that don’t involve the game of football. Stephen Johnson has a heart of a champion. The senior played hurt for most of 2017. He made no excuses. We chatted after the game. We hugged. I told him to look me in the eyes then said, “You played with more heart than any of us (UK QB Fraternity) ….ever.” NFL decisions will be announced soon. Tight end CJ Conrad has already declared his return for a senior season. Up next are OLB Josh Allen and Safety/Nickel Mike Edwards. Winter workouts will start in a week or so. The sting and disgust from the travesty in Nashville should motivate Mark Stoops’ team to begin preparation for 2018. Four of its first six games are against SEC opponents; two on the road. There’s no time to sulk. However, there will be months to remained ticked off about how 2017 ended. Two bad losses against Louisville and Georgia are now joined by an unfair fight in Nashville. I’ll write a true X and O, personnel nerdy post tomorrow. As for now, I had to get some stuff off my chest. Thanks for following along this season. I truly appreciate every read and podcast listen. The BBN showed America why it’s the best fan base in all the land with its support of a double-header that saw Cal’s Cats roll Louisville and Stoops’ bunch leave their hearts on the field in Nashville. [mobile_ad]