UK finds trip to #25 South Carolina another "boulevard of broken dreams", fall 28-26 to the Gamecocks

Can a loss be any more disappointing than this? How many “moral victories” can you take from a single loss? Seriously, can the football Wildcats EVER get a break?

In probably one of the most heartbreaking losses in recent memory, UK gave all the heart and hustle they could manage but in the end fell tantalizingly short to the #25th ranked South Carolina Gamecocks, 28-26.

This despite the fact that All American CB Trevard Lindley did not play. Or that CB Paul Warford did not play. Or RT Justin Jeffiries did not play. And starting QB Mike Hartline left the game early in the 3rd quarter with a knee injury.

But for those UK fans disheartened about UK’s “lack of effort” against Florida and Alabama could not say anything today. Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke put this team on their backs and despite all odds had UK in the position to pull off an upset and break the “Spurrier curse”.

It’s hard to “feel good” about a tough loss when this very easily could and should have been a UK victory. But the continuing theme of mental breakdowns, dropped passes and poor special teams play doomed what should have been a UK victory. Make no mistake, even with all the players out for UK, the Gamecocks did not win this game. In a game this close, you can look at about 6-8 plays where if UK had not been snakebit, we could be looking at a much different outcome right now.

• Randall Cobb dropped a sure TD pass from Mike Hartline in the 1st quarter on 3rd down. Lones Seiber converted on the FG and UK was up 3-0 instead of 7-0.
• The ensuing kickoff was returned 61 yards and South Carolina was in business at the UK 34 to start the drive.
• After a UK TD, the ensuing kickoff was returned 58 yards to the UK 39. On this play, there were about 9 missed tackles.
• Fresh off a 17-14 half time lead and arguably his best half of the season, UK QB Mike Hartline was knocked out of the game with a knee injury.
• Midway through the 3rd quarter down 21-17, and with the ball at the USC 14, UK went for a fake FG which was stuffed for a 3 yard loss.
• On the next series, Will Fidler’s pass to a diving TC Drake went off his fingertips in the endzone and UK settled for a Seiber FG and was down 21-20 instead of going up 24-20.
• From the South Carolina’s 39, UK converted a 4th and 3 but the play was nullified due to UK calling a timeout at the very last second before the snap.
• On the next play, UK converted the 4th and 3 play but the play was nullified by a UK penalty.
• Ryan Tydlacka responded with a 5 yard punt.
• A 44 yard Randall Cobb run was nullified by an unnecessary holding penalty.
• After an incredible drive that consisted mainly of the “wildcat” formation that brought UK to within 28-26, Will Fidler was out of his league passing for a failed 2 point conversion. Randall Cobb rushed for 63 yards in 6 plays on this drive and why the ball was not in his hands is mind boggling.
• Desperately needing a defensive stop at the end of the game, SC QB Stephen Garcia was apparently stopped on a 3rd down run, but did an amazing hurdle to gain the first down.

Add to these plays that fact that USC QB Stephen Garcia was able to pick UK’s depleted secondary cleaner than a buzzard does a carcass and it all adds up to a very frustrating afternoon for UK football fans. Steve Spurrier has to know that his was severely outplayed today, yet he escapes with his 17th straight victory over UK and South Carolina joins the “decade club” with the win.

Worse of all, you have to feel for Cobb, Locke, Corey Peters, and Sam Maxwell, who left their heart on the field only to find yet another “boulevard of broken dreams” against the Gamecocks.

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