by Paul Jordan
Tonight’s Music City Bowl against Clemson was pretty much a microcosm of the Wildcat’s 2009 campaign. The offense trying in vain to develop a passing game. The defense playing great bend but not break defense. And a fourth down dive that came up inches short. As we have gotten used to for this season, this was another case of “Close but no cigar”.
The frustrating thing is this is a game that Kentucky very easily could have won. After an impressive 3-and-out defensive stand, Morgan Newton led the Cats down the field in a very efficient drive ending with a nice 17 yard pass to Chris Matthews that put UK up 7-0. Another impressive defensive stand ensued and UK, with the help of Clemson penalties, drove the ball to the Clemson 29 before Newton lost yardage on the next 2 plays and UK missed a good opportunity to go up two scores. UK had to punt and Clemson took over at the 10.
At this point, we saw what kind of a game this was going to be. Kyle Parker hit C.J Spiller on a 42 yard gain and Spiller fumbled and a UK defender tried in vain to recover it before it trickled out of bounds. Two plays later, Parker hit Jacoby Ford on a wide open TD pass that tied the game. UK took the lead on a Lones Seiber FG, but Clemson or specifically Jamie Harper moved the ball from the Clemson 38 to the Kentucky 1. Two plays later and Clemson had a 14-10 lead they would never relinquish.
The only scoring in the 3rd quarter was a Seiber FG that brought UK within one and the rest of the game was a case of missed opportunities. UK could not take advantage of a 24 yard Clemson punt that put the ball near midfield as the fourth quarter began. Then on the next possession, Gene McKaskill did the unthinkable and fumbled on the UK 19. Clemson took advantage of the great field position and went in for the final points of the game.
Then with time running out, Morgan Newton had to scramble on a 4th and 8 from the Clemson 32 and gained 7 yards. Or 7 and a half. It was that close. And like that, UK’s dreams of a 4th straight bowl win were crushed as Clemson used C.J Spiller to run the clock out.
But the main question is if Rich Brooks will be returning has yet to be answered. His comments after the game seem to suggest he is ready to let Joker Phillips take over. If that is the case, he left the program in a hell of a lot better shape than he found it. And he deserves recognition for that.
The other big question for UK was if Derrick Locke would return for his senior season. After a less than stellar showing, all indications are that he will. And for him that seems to be the right decision.
Time will tell what the final decisions shall be, but I can assure that Papa Brooks will stick to his decision when it’s made and not waffle like those boys in Gainesville.
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