Kentucky Wildcat's 5 for Monday: Mutiny on Joker's Bounty? Edition

As this football season began, lots of fans (myself included) looked at the schedule and saw a 9-3 or even a 8-4 season for the Wildcats.  After the latest loss to Mississippi State, Kentucky stands at 4-5 and has to win out to reach the 7-5 mark, which has led to much grumbling amoung Kentucky fans.  And it’s not just the fans grumbling.  A poster (claiming to be RB Donald Russell’s mother)  has posted on the http://kentucky.247sports.com/ site.  Several other sites are running the rant, so I will as well and just say I can not verify this is actually Russell’s mom, but no one has denied that it is yet … and you would figure that would have happened by now:

"Hey all..this is Donald’s mother..I wanted you to know that I read the blogs the good and the bad. We always use them as a learning tool to improve so believe me when I say all of your comments are appreciated. I couldn’t sit back and just let everyone assume what is going on. The coaches are only going to tell the fans so much but I feel I will tell you. Donald and Johnthan George was recruited because Coach Brooks wanted tailbacks that could hit the hole in the middle and break tackles. Now Joker and Coach Sanders (also quoted by Joker in different press conferences) they feel the smaller runnerbacks fits what the offense needs and the direction the offense is going in. Donald has been dealing with the pressure of knowing the Coaches do not feel they need his type of running style. He was told by a coach after the GA game that “his margin of error is smaller than the other players because the Offensive Coordinator wants to play #4 Sanders so he cannot make any mistakes so work harder.” Donald has been commended by teammates and other Coaches (EVEN Joker in a press conference) on how well Donald has shown good character by still working hard in practice, doing everything they have asked him to do and by not showing any ATTITUDE. I watched the Giants/Dallas game last monday and a running back fumbled the ball and the coach put him right back in. The commentator stated he commends that coach for putting that player right back in the game and that the coach was a true players coach. Also, in the Fl. State game on Thursday the quarterback fumbled the ball the last few seconds of the game costing them the game. His team rallied around him and the head coach talked with him and touched him to consule him. He knew what the young man must have felt to know that he just lost that game after a start of a great season. When Donald fumbled his ball (WHICH WAS A HORRIBLE FUMBLE FOR THE TEAM) I was in the stands and I just screamed repeatedly No No No (along with the some others words I will not type) because I knew what that meant and what he was going to feel like. NOT ONE COACH went to him to say “What were you thinking or that he was to good of player to make such a mistake or to even encourage him as the Fl State coach did”…my family and I knew what was going to happen.. he was punished because he has no room for a margin of error because of his running style. Now don’t get us wrong..not every coach can go over and give every kid a hug..that is not what we are asking but Donald and (us his family) can see what their intentions are for him. I told Donald everything that he did wrong and every play that he missed because Donald has to work on being a great tailback not just a good tailback if you want to be in the SEC. I’m sorry if any reader believes there is more to the story but there isn’t."

"This is Donald’s lesson on having mental toughness. You have to build a bond and a relationship with players in order for them to believe and trust in what you are doing. If you don’t.. then you won’t be able to motivate them to do more than they have already have for you. They lost our trust with their words so we have been going by their actions and their actions are speaking loud and clear. This may not be the appropriate to put my thoughts online especially when we are easy going quiet people but this is our story. Yes this is Jokers team and he should and has the right to do what he feels is best for the team and he has our respect for that. Joker is under a lot of pressure and my family and I are so proud of him and wish him the best as a coach…"

*****

Later tonight, Kentucky faces off with Pikeville College in the first exhibition game of the season.  And leave it to John Calipari to not downplay the competition.  Even though the Bears are finished to finish fourth in the Mid-South conference (NAIA), John Calipari thinks the Bears provide a “good test” for his Wildcats.

Tonight’s exhibition also marks the return of former Wildcat walkon Landon Slone to Rupp Arena.  If we recall, the dismissal of Slone from the team was the first of approximately 200 mini-dramas since John Calipari arrived in Lexington.  Slone is excited to be back in Rupp Arena and it’s good to see the former Cat doing well with another team. 

Speaking of tonight’s game, it is virtually no chance we will see Enes Kanter and it is looking that Kanter may be out for a while.  With no Kanter, Terrence Jones will be expected to be the post presence for John Calipari’s Wildcats tonight and this season. 

And a bit of a black cloud for your Monday morning (as if Monday’s were not bad enough) … Derrick Locke’s status for the Charleston Southern game is still uncertain.  From all indications, Kentucky may not need him this weekend, but here’s hoping we can get him healthy and ready for at least the Vanderbilt game if he can not go Saturday.

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