Game Day Links: Kentucky Wildcats vs. Tennessee Volunteers

Nov 9, 2013; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops reacts to a call during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Commonwealth Stadium. Missouri defeated Kentucky 47-17. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Every year we play the Tennessee Volunteers and every other year this is our Senior Day.  This is the “other year.”  Today is going to be very emotional and not lost on the entire state is that the Seniors on this team have felt what it’s like to beat the criminals from Knoxville.  As with every game, there are keys and match-ups and motivations each side must focus on and embrace and some of those may surprise you.

Keys for the Kentucky Wildcats

"Rebuild belief After playing hard and at least staying in all (non-Alabama) games in Mark Stoops’ first season, Kentucky appeared to let go of the rope in a demoralizing 59-17 pasting at Georgia. Statistically, there’s not much separation between Tennessee and UK, but will the Cats’ psyche rebound enough from the collapse in Athens to put up a vigorous fight? Pressure a young QB The strength of the Tennessee offense is a veteran offensive line and the running of Rajion Neal. Since starting quarterback Justin Worley injured his right thumb in the Volunteers’ loss at Alabama, true freshman Joshua Dobbs has been the Vols’ QB. So far, he’s thrown zero touchdowns and five interceptions. UT has not passed for more than 128 yards in either of its last two games. Defensively, the Cats need to make the UT passing attack beat them. The kitchen sink Kentucky may as well throw it at Tennessee. Beaten up and beaten down, the UK offense has failed to gain 300 total yards in either of its last two games. With Kentucky at 2-9 and with leading rusher Raymond Sanders and key receiver Demarco Robinson suspended, there’s no reason not to try every trick in the playbook on the Vols. Historically, Tennessee defenses have proven surprisingly vulnerable to a wide receiver playing quarterback. THE MOOD Is one of relief that the season is ending. After the euphoria that followed the hiring of Mark Stoops and the coach’s early recruiting successes, the new UK head man has endured a difficult first season. With one chance left in 2013 for Stoops to produce a belief-instilling victory, the UK coach is fortunate in this sense: Even with Tennessee mired in mediocrity, there are few foes Kentucky football fans would more relish beating."

Keys for the Tennessee Volunteers

"1. Avoid eight: The weight of Tennessee football history rides on the Vols’ shoulder pads tonight. No UT squad has ever lost eight games in a season, a distinction it shares only with Ohio State among power-conference programs. In 2008 and 2012, UT dodged that dubious fate with wins over the Wildcats to finish 5-7. Can they pull it off again? 2. Beware the Receiver: Not catching passes, but playing quarterback. The 2011 game will forever live in infamy because receiver Matt Roark played quarterback and led the Wildcats to an improbable upset to end the 26-year losing streak to UT. QB Jalen Whitlow is banged-up this week, so watch out for Ryan Timmons or Javess Blue. Just sayin’. 3. Score. Duh!: Tennessee’s offense is no juggernaut and recent history suggests a subpar game from a subpar unit won’t end well. Like, for example, the 14-10 loss last week to Vandy. The last trip to Lexington was a 10-7 fiasco. Don’t put it all on the defense. 4. Palardy, Please: Kicker Michael Palardy is arguably Tennessee’s MVP. That burden was underscored when he had a bad game last week, leading to all sorts of ramifications in the loss to Vanderbilt. The Vols need Palardy to impact the game hitting field goals and changing field position with punts and kickoffs. 5. For the Seniors: Twenty-something seniors bow out tonight. Their UT experience didn’t turn out to be what they signed up for. They deserve to at least go out with a smile on their faces."

Key Match-ups for the Kentucky Wildcats

"QUARTERBACKS Jalen Whitlow was knocked out by injury (neck spasms) last week at Georgia. In relief, Maxwell Smith hit on 10 of 16 passes for 149 yards with a TD pass. Depending on Whitlow’s health, both are likely to play Saturday. Tennessee lost starter Justin Worley to an injured right thumb in its loss at Alabama. True freshman Joshua Dobbs is a promising dual threat but has thrown for only 181 yards combined in UT’s last two games. Advantage: Even RUNNING BACKS With senior Raymond Sanders suspended, It would be nice if UK senior Jonathan George gets some touches in his final game. Still, true freshman Jojo Kemp (460 yards rushing) and true sophomore Dyshawn Mobley figure to be Kentucky’s prime ball carriers. Mobley, a Powell, Tenn., product, had his best game as a Wildcat at Georgia with 92 yards rushing, including a 69-yard TD run. Tennessee senior Rajion Neal is seventh in the SEC in rushing (990 yards) and has four 100 yards-plus games. Advantage: Tennessee WIDE RECEIVERS Kentucky’s Javess Blue (team-leading 40 catches) had five receptions for 93 yards and a TD at Georgia. UK offensive coordinator Neal Brown says true freshman Jeff Badet (16 catches, one TD) has been one of his most pleasant surprises. Alton “Pig” Howard leads Tennessee with 42 receptions. The 5-foot-8, 185-pound sophomore caught 11 balls at Missouri. True freshman Marquez North (38 catches) has had a strong UT debut. Advantage: Tennessee TIGHT ENDS UK lists five tight ends on its depth chart and four — ex-Boyle County standout Jordan Aumiller (nine catches), Anthony Kendrick (seven), Tyler Robinson (one) and Patrick Ligon (none) — are seniors. Robinson, an Alcoa, Tenn., product, caught a TD vs. UT in 2010. Tennessee’s Brendan Downs averages 5.9 yards on his 11 catches. He does have two touchdown receptions. Advantage: Kentucky OFFENSIVE LINEMEN Kentucky sophomore right tackle Jordan Swindle is considered one of the most improved players on the UK roster by the Wildcats coaches. Bryan Station product Darrian Miller at left tackle has played well. Tennessee’s team strength is a veteran front that features four senior starters. Massive junior left tackle Antonio Richardson (6-foot-6, 327 pounds) was named pre-season All-SEC first-team by the league’s coaches. Advantage: Tennessee DEFENSIVE LINEMEN UK end Za’Darius Smith, a junior-college transfer, had a career-high nine stops at Georgia. This will be the final Commonwealth Stadium appearance for Kentucky senior tackles Donte Rumph, Mister Cobble and Tristian Johnson. Tennessee left end Jacques Smith had six tackles and a fumble recovery in the loss to Vanderbilt. Redshirt senior end Marlon Walls leads the Vols with 4.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. Advantage: Kentucky LINEBACKERS UK middle linebacker Avery Williamson stands third in the SEC in tackles (96). The senior from Milan, Tenn., will end his career against his home-state school. Tennessee MLB A.J. Johnson led the SEC in tackles last season (138) and is second this season (97). Advantage: Tennessee SECONDARY An unsung hero for UK has been true freshman nickle back Blake McClain. He had a career-high 12 tackles at Georgia. Sophomore Cody Quinn is listed first-string at cornerback after missing the loss to UGA due to suspension. Tennessee has intercepted 14 passes this season, with strong safety Brian Randolph leading the way with four. Cornerback Justin Coleman, a junior from Brunswick, Ga., is a player Kentucky recruited. Advantage: Tennessee SPECIAL TEAMS Kentucky senior place-kicker Joe Mansour (11-for-12 field goals, a TD run) has been an unexpected strength. Sophomore punter Landon Foster (41.1 yards a kick), a Franklin, Tenn., product, had a better season last year. With returners Demarco Robinson (punts) and Raymond Sanders (kickoffs) suspended, UK needs Javess Blue to step up in both areas. Tennessee’s Michael Palardy is second in the SEC in field goals made (14-for-17 with a long of 51) and fifth in punting (43.9 yards, a whopping 28 inside the opponent’s 20). Advantage: Tennessee"

Aug 31, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers running back Keshawn Simpson (34) rushes past Kentucky Wildcats linebacker Avery Williamson (40) for the touchdown during the first half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

As helpful and important as the numbers are in this game, you can shove it all aside because there is absolutely no love lost between these two schools.  Neither are having a successful season by any stretch but that doesn’t take away one ounce of disdain in this rivalry.  And as such, Tennessee is aptly motivated and up for this game.

"KNOXVILLE — Tennessee doesn’t expect to have trouble finding motivation for Saturday’s season finale at Kentucky even though a bowl bid isn’t at stake. The chance to build momentum by earning its first true road win in three years is all the incentive the Volunteers need. “We have to prove that we can go on the road and win football games,” Tennessee coach Butch Jones said. “There’s a lot to play for. I think our players understand that.” Although Tennessee beat North Carolina State 35-21 at the Georgia Dome in its 2012 season opener, the Volunteers haven’t won a game in an opposing team’s stadium since a 24-10 victory over Vanderbilt on Nov. 20, 2010. The Vols have dropped 12 consecutive true road games, including a 10-7 loss at Kentucky in 2011 that ended Tennessee’s 26-game winning streak in this annual series. “I don’t think it will be difficult to get motivated at all,” senior offensive tackle Ja’Wuan James said. “We are all competitive. For the seniors, this is our last college football game. We want to go out there and compete and play to the best of our abilities. I am going to try and make that 60 minutes last as long as I can.” “If you are a competitor, it is another opportunity to compete,” Jones said. “We always talk about competitive character in our football program. So that is first and foremost. You are representing Tennessee. It is another opportunity. For the younger players, it is another opportunity to put their football identity and their football resume on film as we continue to build this football program and move forward.” There also is incentive for Tennessee’s seniors. They see this as a chance to improve their legacy, boost a rebuilding program and set an example for the underclassmen. “Our senior class has been through so much together, so much adversity,” senior kicker/punter Michael Palardy said. “Coach Jones always says, ‘Football is life, just sped up faster.’ I think all of the adversity that we’ve gone through in the past four years has made us not only better players, but better men as well. So we can pass that on to the younger guys and show them you’re going to hit adversity, you’re going to go through bumps in the road, but it’s how you overcome that adversity that makes you who you are, not (only) as a man but as a player as well.”"

There is no greater motivation for a game than knowing it is your last one and that this game will ultimely propel you into the next season.  Both of those scenarios are the reality for the Kentucky Wildcats today and that isn’t lost on anyone.

"A senior send-off Sixteen Kentucky seniors will be sent off on Saturday before the game against Tennessee, including redshirt junior cornerback Eric Simmons, who is graduating on time and forgoing his senior season. Stoops has not announced whether or not running back Raymond Sanders will be a part of the Senior Day festivities. He was suspended for this game after violating team rules. The following seniors will be honored: tight end Jordan Aumiller, defensive tackle Mister Cobble, running back Jonathan George, defensive lineman Tristian Johnson, fullback Cody Jones, tight end Anthony Kendrick, tight end Patrick Ligon, kicker Joe Mansour, offensive lineman Kevin Mitchell, tight end Tyler Robinson, defensive tackle Donte Rumph, wide receiver Muhammad Saifullah, Simmons, safety Dakotah Tyler, linebacker Avery Williamson. Win one for Williamson There are plenty of seniors in this departing class that have had an impact on the program, but none that have seized it the way Williamson has, as a leader both on and off the field. It’s something said nearly every week by his coaches or his teammates. Even the coordinator on the other side of the ball can’t say enough about Williamson, third in the Southeastern Conference in total tackles with 96 and tackles per game (8.7). Five times this season he’s led UK in tackles, including four games with double-digit tackles. “I think there’s no question, first of all, that Avery is the leader of the team,” offensive coordinator Neal Brown said recently. “He’s obviously the leader on defense, but also the leader on the entire team.” A win over the main team in his home state would be special for Williamson, who hasn’t beaten an SEC team in 15 straight tries, dating to that surprise 2011 win over the Volunteers. When asked about bragging rights back home, Williamson simply said: “I want it bad.” A victory over Tennessee is something Stoops would like UK to get for his senior leader. “Avery is definitely a guy that you think about when you think about this group that has done an awful lot for this program,” he said. “I’m going to miss him. It will be very important for us to help him get a victory in this last game.” More early enrollees possible At Kentucky’s Commonwealth Stadium renovation news conference on Monday, there was plenty of talk about the program’s future, including its more immediate future. Stoops showed video highlights of the Cats’ five mid-year enrollees: Drew Barker, Dorian Hendrix, Mikel Horton, T.V. Williams and Thaddeus Snodgrass, who all have signed scholarship papers to enroll at UK in January. The head coach hinted later in the week that those five might have some company. “There could be some more,” he said. “We’re only allowed to announce the mid-year guys that are high school guys, because the college guys that are gonna come in midyear, they sign a national letter of intent. So we could have some more high school guys or some more junior-college guys.” Earlier in the season, Stoops said there could be nine or 10 of those early enrollment players if UK graduated the players it expected to graduate."