WBN Nightcap: Football Cats Have Their First Bad Day

Oct 13, 2012; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks linebacker Terrell Williams (25) rushes Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Jalen Whitlow (13) during the first quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

It finally happened this week. The moment Kentucky football fans were either dreading or expecting, so often the same thing for Wildcat pigskin fans.

The media gathered around new coach Mark Stoops following practice and the head man was NOT happy. This was a deviation from the norm, Stoops has been happy and satisfied in some fashion every time he has been interviewed. This day would be different, the team had a sloppy and lackadaisical morning session. Stoops referred to it as a “wasted” practice that this team simply cannot afford. As the is going on offensive coordinator Neal Brown walks off of the practice field and strikes a light pole with his visor, clearly frustrated.

Twitter and message boards lit up with fans upset with the idea that these players could ever waste something this precious. Some folks even tried to pin it on former coach Joker Phillips. He spoiled these guys, ruined the lockerroom. He gave them ice cream for crying out loud. One bad practice was the harbinger for a lost season.

I’m here to tell you all to come out of your doomsday shelters, it’s not a big deal. This team has been practicing for almost two weeks and this is the first time that the coaches are dissatisfied with the effort? That’s awesome. I never played on a team that didn’t have a couple of bad practices during preseason camp. It happens. Alabama has a bad practice from time to time. Yes, the Tide can afford to with all of the talent on their roster, but the point is that no team has flawless effort. Often it can be a good thing, it focuses the team for the next practice. It lets them know that they need to work hard every day. All the coaches and players can do and move on to the next practice and try to get better.

Today the team had a scrimmage, with mixed results. All reports say that the offense struggled a bit, throwing four interceptions (reportedly two each by Towles and Smith). The offense coaches were understandably frustrated and the defensive guys were a little more relieved. But once practice ended, guess what happened. Just go ahead and guess. The players were treated to Kona Ice. If you aren’t familiar with Kona, they provide a variety of frozen treats from a truck. Uh oh. Here we go again. But seriously, if anyone complains about this they need to just stop following the team. These are kids in their late teens and early twenties, they are going to have a bad day occasionally. The coaches are going to reward them occasionally. Neither will cause Kentucky to lose football games. People need to let go of the little stuff and focus on the big picture. Kentucky football is light-years ahead of where it was a season ago. The talent is much the same but nearly everything else is better and will continue to get better.