WBN Nightcap: Kentucky Football News & Notes

Sept 29, 2012; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Joker Phillips reacts in the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Commonwealth Stadium. Credit: Mark Zerof-US PRESSWIRE

Well, another Sunday of mourning is upon us with Kentucky losing to South Carolina last night. But for once there is a glimmer of hope. The final score didn’t reflect how close the game was through 3-plus quarters.

Most of this was discussed this morning on our podcast which should be available later. For now, we will just look at a few observations from this weekend:

• Fans owe Raymond Sanders an apology. Sanders, along with Jonathan George, have been a bright spot this season. Ray has run with purpose and appears to finally be healthy.
• South Carolina fans were downright pleasant until the game started. During tailgate the Gamecock fans were friendly and conversational, giving more respect to UK than their own fans have lately. But once the game started, they transformed into loud, snarling visitors. Nothing wrong with that.
• There is something wrong with the USC section and band launching a Gamecocks cheer while Dakota Tyler lay on the turf, being tended to by the medical staff. It was one of the most classless things that I have ever seen at a sporting event.
• Speaking of fans lacking some class, Kentucky fans, while not nearly as disturbing as the USCe crowd had a moment of shame as well. As noted by several journalists and the Twittersphere, Kentucky fans walked out of the stadium en masse with the Wildcats trailing the #6 team in the country by only 4 points. I am ashamed to be lumped in with those people as a UK fan. Way to support your team folks, the game was on ESPN2, so half of the country saw the sorry excuse for “fans”.
• Speaking of sorry fans, don’t dress up in Kentucky gear and come to a game only to cheer for the other team. I don’t care how you feel about the coaches, a fan never hopes their team will lose. That’s pathetic.
• On the other hand, the home crowd was electric through the 1^st half. Much like the team, they really showed some potential before falling apart.
• Common misconception of Kentucky fans: Every running play out of the shotgun formation is not a “draw”. A draw is a delayed run that freezes the defense in the ruse of a pass, then a handoff to the running back. Contrary to popular belief, last night’s game featured heavy doses of read-option with some sweeps, toss sweeps and yes, draws, mixed in.
• Kudos to Jalen Whitlow for coming into a tough situation and trying to make the best of it. The pump-fake on his touchdown run was an excellent play by that young man.
• I promise that Aaron Boyd played, he simply didn’t get open.
• Unrelated to the game but still relevant; Kentucky picked up a commitment from Atlanta ATH Darren Dowdell after the game. He cited the 1^st half crowd and atmosphere at UK as a big factor in his decision. Dowdell has been high on the Cats for a while before finally pulling the trigger. He is likely to get a look at tight end first, but has the frame to play linebacker.