The Ryder Cup's Thursday Morning Wakeup

My fellow golf fans, you know what time it is. Everyone else, learn. It's time for the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. Today's events include the Captain's Challenge (12-3 pm) and the opening ceremonies (4 pm), before the real action gets underway tomorrow with the golf. Unfortunately, the American team some several golfers I cannot stand (Patrick Reed), but my patriotism outweighs my disdain for the PGA's top pricks, so it's all U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! until the cup is won on Sunday. Obviously we'll be rooting hardest for Kentucky's own J.B. Holmes, who earned a captain's pick Davis Love III to join the 12-man roster. Maybe he'll have some heroics in the U.S.'s run for its 26th victory over the Europeans. Go golf. Go America. Go Holmes.   Damien Harris' status is TBD. It's personal for Damien Harris this week, so he says, but it's also still unclear if Nick Saban will suit him up for Saturday's game. Harris is still battling an ankle injury he suffered last Saturday, and though he did return to practice Wednesday, he will likely be a game time decision. With a four-game stretch against Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas A&M and LSU following the Kentucky game, Saban may decide to play it safe with his top running back. Mark Stoops addressed Mikel Horton's departures. Stoops said:

“It’s not an issue handling the loss. As you know, he’s only had a few carries this fall. Yeah, we did see it coming. It’s just one of this situations where, for whatever reason, he gets behind on the depth chart and has to earn the trust of the coaches and the players as he moves forward. He was starting to do that, and doing a better job and being more accountable, and then some other guys emerged.” “You know, there’s only one football, and we’ve been playing pretty solid at the running back position and he had a hard time getting back on the field. We wish him the best of luck, but depth is certainly not an issue. We’ve got quite a few [running] backs on scholarship.”

You can debate whether or not Horton should've stayed and finished out the season, but if he was a problem on the sideline or in the locker room, he needed to go. And whatever attitude issues he had, the fact of the matter is he simply got beat out by a true freshman. No other way to say it. The new KSR Football Podcast is out. We talked a little football and Freddie Maggard revealed he used to breakdance under the alias "Dr. Cool." Listen here. I'm suddenly having second thoughts about not going to Tuscaloosa. The spread is up to 35 points. That's higher than the spread in several of college football's all-time biggest upsets. So, let's join college football's all-time biggest upsets. Nick Richards to visit this weekend. In basketball news, five-star center Nick Richards will take his official visit to Kentucky in the coming days. It will be the first of Richards' five allotted visits, although he may not even need the other four. It's believed Kentucky is the clear-cut favorite for the New Jersey product and he will one day wear blue in Lexington. P.J. Washington coming back for more. Not long after taking his official visit, five-star power forward P.J. Washington will travel back to Lexington for another look at Big Blue Madness. Washington is the odds-on favorite to become John Calipari's first commitment in the 2017 recruiting class. Louisville City FC is hosting a playoff game and tickets are cheap. Louisville City FC will host its opening USL playoff game on Sunday and tickets are very, very, very affordable for such a fun experience and meaningful contest for the soccer club. If you're a college student, it's only $5 to get in at the door with a valid college ID; and only $15 otherwise. Kickoff is set for 7 pm at Slugger Field and I highly recommend going. Matt and Ryan coming up on KSR. Maybe with three males in blue aprons.