Bill Gates, Donald Trump: You ain't gettin' in

Fo' Sho'!

I don't know, but I thought I saw an old lady and her children run inside Shagari's shoe.

It's Been Awhile

I apologize for being away for a lengthy amount of time. Life happens sometimes with trying to balance work, projects, and whatever else.

However, I'm quite dissapointed in this year's team, but honestly anyone could see it coming and hoping for anything more was a bit of a stretch. But I'll take it with a smile. You know with all the injuries and setbacks, positive change is never easy so I'll take this year as a building block that's setting the foundation for years to come.

I was impressed by Gillispie's comments following the Florida win; you don't spit words out like that without cause

“I've been around a lot of tough teams but no team tougher than this one. They defy the odds. Not one person spoke about losing an unbelievable player (Patrick Patterson) since that time it happened last week. All our guys have been doing is concentrating on how we are going to do this. We've tried to figure it out. I've never been around a tougher group than this one with no disrespect to the other teams I've been with. This team is something else and it's led by great senior leadership in Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford. Those guys are special. We'll have a lot of great players in the future and have some now, but those guys are very special players. They never listen to anyone, including their coach some times. They, along with everyone on this team, have Big Blue hearts. This was an unbelievable performance and no way could I possibly be prouder of a group of young men.”

That's saying somethin', yo.

Today's Custom Image: 2k8 Bradley

Today's custom image comes from anonymous and would like to thank him/her for the pics ... sweet work with the photoshop, yo. Teeeeeach me? Seriously more to come too.

I Ain't No Sh'n, Cat's Are #8!

Normally for this blog during football season it consists of ups and down, should I blog this or shouldn't I, and mainly playing my frustrations with the team through the XBox. That doesn't excuse my long absence from this blog, one because well, I haven't been playing video games, and two, the Cats are freakin' hot.

Hearing that Kentucky is a top 10 team really is complimented with a feeling of disbelief. Not that I didn't want to see this happen but maybe because I never thought it would happen in my lifetime. Finally Kentucky has reached the national spotlight and we're not in basketball season. The hope was always there, it still resides deep inside my heart - national championship title for Kentucky football, but as a fan I guess the feeling of whether it would or could happen in my lifetime was or is a slight doubt.

Hearing Kentucky be slated as the number eight team in the nation has changed the hope in me. Maybe this is a miracle year for my Cats. In fact, I have a strong feeling that if these kids can overcome LSU, they may just run the table in the SEC and get to the conference championship. If they win that game, I'd find it hard to believe Kentucky not being in the national championship game based on where they stand NOW. Winning out is key. You could say I'm a bit premature and have let the current rise in the state of UK go to my head, but if you look at where Kentucky stands now, yes, if they can get past LSU and run the table, it would be hard, based on whom Kentucky would have beatened this year, to not put them in the conversation for the national championship. They will have at least a BCS bid, and hopefully Woodson earns the Heisman. In my lifetime I would have never expected to see Kentucky ranked in the top 10 except on a video game. That's true Su-Fi, yo. Su-Fi. But now I'm thinking, damn, Kentucky may have a shot at the national title if they win out. In what, three weeks, they have jumped from 21 to 8. That's a huge Su-Fi to Big Blue Nation on the parts of Rich Brooks and company.

Their play has astounded me. Mainly from halftime adjustments to put their opponents away in the second half. Defensively, Kentucky is getting there and they clearly can play, I feel, against any team in the nation now. If you don't know who Woodyard or Kelley is, you'll soon find out. If you don't know who Stevie Johnson is, you're defense will soon find out. With the Johnson emerging as yet a 5 or 6th option from the line, it's hard to believe with Woodson's talent that the offense will sputter in a game. Just hearing the names makes me giddy yo: Burton, Tamme, Lyons, Little, Stevie, Dixon, and now even Locke. Most of all I have to give a big Su-Fi to the Kentucky offensive line. They literally just grew up before my eyes and they are just beating down and protecting Woodson. That's a huge part I think that gets missed in all of this. Kentucky's offensive line may just be one of the best in the nation.

So yeah, Kentucky's freakin' ranked 8th man. Thursday night will also be another test. SC on the road yo. Gotta suck, but I think these guys are up to the challenge. After all, these guys have earned the respect of 8th in the nation. It's not a matter of it being a road game; it's a matter of defending that respect and taking care of Spurrier whom I loathe to pieces. Like I said, they're 8th in the nation now, and it's hard to believe they won't at least be in the Top 3 in the nation if they can survive LSU and win out.

Su-Fi to the Big Blue Nation, yo.

LINKAGE

[ASoB] Post mortem on Florida Atlantic
[Bracketology 101] Basketball: Bold Prediction: Kentucky an early 3 seed
[Scout] Like, Holy S***, Right?
Wildcats Earn Poll Position
[LHL] UK Major SEC Factor


NOTE: Your worldwide leader in sports blogging, Deadspin and AOL's Fanhouse, have absolutely no reaction at all to the sudden rise of UK in the polls. I laugh in total disgust. (Calling UK Bias).

LIVEBLUE

Game Blog Nominees; Kent St. Got Checked

A 56-20 win over Kent St. should please the Big Blue Nation, after all by all indications of the first half, Kent St showed up and was going to fight to the bitter end but the Kentucky defense showed up in the second half and only allowed six points to the pleasing fans of many. Woodyard and Kelley combined for 26 tackles alone maybe hinting at a little halftime spill by the coach telling those guys to step it up because the talents of Kent St won't amount to what they will go up against in the SEC this year. So congrats to these kids, Kentucky is 2-0 going up against L'ville, a top 10 opponent, this weekend which should be a dandy, Brohm vs Woodson.

Fantasy

I didn't do as well as I would have hoped. Woodson was in fantasy terms decent but could've been better, but I'll credit Kent St's D for that. They did hang with us for one half. Here's where I stand on the year …

Week 1 Actual: 66 Earned: 40
Week 2 Actual: 47 Earned: 56
Diff: -57

Game Blog Nominees

Here are this week's Week 2 Game Blog Nominees vs Kent St. Feel free to tell me I'm wrong I suppose or maybe even agree with me.

#4 Rafael Little
Little ran 102 yards on 13 carries averaging over 7 yds a carry. That's game blog material, yo!

#3 Keenan Burton
Keenan showed us why he's still #1 WR for UK with 109 yds receiving and a score. Lyons and Tamme were quiet while sleeper pick wideout Stevie Johnson made a showing.

#2 Braxton KelleyKelley totalled 11 tackles for the game and for a defense that showed up in the second half of this game, that's reason enough this kid gets number two.

#1 Wesley Woodyard
Woodyard led Kentucky with 15 tackles and combined with Kelley totalled over 25 tackles which helped lead Kentucky to a second half rout of Kent St. Woodyard more than held his own here. Well done. Now it's time to see this type of performance against ninth ranked Louisville this Saturday.

Items of Interest

· Basketball: It's official, Tracy Webster is Giddyup's third and final assistant coach, who also was the lead recruiter in Darius Miller's recruiting. My question is what took so long?

· Little has good chance to put up huge numbers as he leads the team in rushing, however, as pointed out by Jody Demling it's not all Little. In fact, in my opinion, the healthier Little is, the more opportunity guys like Dixon will score the TDs, you know except when Little busts a 50 yarder on ya. Either way, it bids well for UK this week that he's healthy.

‘ "Rafael's had a great career for us, and two years ago he's all we had," UK coach Rich Brooks said. "Now we have some other things to go with him." ’

Reason enough in that statement that we'll be seeing more Dixon as well - possibly in goalline situations?

LIVEBLUE

Welcome To Camp; Who's Da Bad A** Now?!

Rafael Little is funny, yo. Seriously funny. na na na na naaaaa ... Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeah!



LIVEBLUE

Football Week 2: Kent State

Despite offending a few Kent St fans, the fact is that Kentucky has high expectations based on who they return this year and how they ended their season last year. Whatever Kent St has for Kentucky, the Wildcats D should have an answer. As I've said before, Kentucky has to beat teams like Kent St and EKU if they expect to be taken seriously surrounded by their own hype (ie. Believe). So other than a win, it's a disappointment. Now when we start getting into the SEC schedule expectations will be high but realistic. Needless to say, it's realistic to beat teams like Kent St. if Rich Brooks expects to ever visit the SEC Championship with Kentucky, so whatever Kent St has, Kentucky better have an answer for it because I don't care how improved Kent St may be, Kentucky clearly has enough playmakers to shut them and their fans up as far as I'm concerned. And if the Wildcats can't beat a team like Kent St., how the hell do you expect them to do anything worthwhile in SEC play? Believe? well honestly, Kentucky still has to prove they can go undefeated in non-conference play first. And I do believe, it's just the proving process ain't over yet folks. Show me they can beat the teams they're supposed to beat first, and then I'll start believing more. This should be a win and if any player on Kentucky's team wants to make another video telling us to “believe”, well, how bout takin' care of the non-conference sched first, then I'll believe even more. There's a reason you schedule a team like Kent St early in the season because it tests you just good enough without sacrificing a loss. At least you hope so, go ask Michigan. The season just began and it's not time to fold on us now kids. You only beat EKU at home, and you're next opponent is only Kent St. These are teams you have to beat FIRST before you can ever begin thinking of making a visit to the SEC Championship, right Coach Brooks?

Let's take care of these kids from Kent St. the way you're supposed to and expected to.

That said, I think and yes, believe as if that's not getting old (I wanna see results!), that Kentucky will give up no more than 10 points to Kent St. Here are my adjusted fantasy predictions …

Woodson: 240, 4 TDs
Little: 85 yards rushing, TD
Burton: 80 yards 2TDs
Lyons: 70 yards TD
Tamme: 50 yards TD
K: 2 FGs
DEF: 10 pts allowed, 2 FR, 2 INTs
FINAL SCORE: 34-10 Kentucky

LIVEBLUE

Football: Game Blog Nominees

From the guy behind Barnhart and Lyons in the blue striped shirt: “Hello Big Blue!”

From the Wildcat Blog's Prediction Headquarters:

“Woodson: 250 yds, 2TDs
Little: 80 yards rushing, 35 receiving, TD
Burton: 100 yard rec., TD
Lyons: 65 rec.,
Tamme: 40 yards rec.,
K: 2 FGs
DEF: 10 pts allowed, fumble rec., int

Predicted Score: Kentucky 34 EKU 10

Well a little over a day has passed since the home opener, and season opener for that matter, win against EKU has settled upon the mind. A couple of things I'm proud of … all involving my predictions.

· Andre Woodson threw for 250 and 3 scores -- I predicted 250 and 2 scores.

· I wasn't that far off from Rafael Little's stats of 135 and a score -- I predicted 80 and a score.

· Defense allowed 10 and picked EKU off once in a 50-10 win -- I predicted exactly 10 pts to EKU and an INT in predicted score of 34-10.

So while that wasn't amazing stats or anything in comparison, you have to give me some credit in at least being close to near dead on without even seeing this team prior to. So I'm happy. The only thing I'm truly amazed at, and yes I'm probably the last fan to finally realize it and accept it, but Tony Dixon is a beast man. The kid can juke and that's no fluke, yo. He's the real deal. Kentucky has two starting running backs in my opinion in Little and Dixon. And as I've said this before, Little could've own the game against EKU, however after sitting on it, so would've Tony Dixon - he only had 9 carries for 77 yds and 2 scores.

And yet while I was wrong about Keenan Burton, I learned my lesson. Burton's game is going to open up a lot opportunities for Lyons and Johnson and even Tamme. Even though Burton's 49 and one score is respectable, the game ball would've been given to Dicky Lyons simply for Kentucky's first offensive play of the game that went in the air to Lyons for six. You know what they say man, pump fakin' is for chump takin'. I kid, I kid. But how the heck does play action pass be THAT effective from the get go? Thank you Keenan! :). With that said, it's time for the Wildcat Blog's Game Blog Nominees and we've got some good ones, yo. So good I had to name six kids with Nominees that truely deserves mentioning, and don't forget at the end of the month, all my Game Blog Nominees will be presented at Wildcats Thunder for a decisive vote from it's members to decide who will be the Game Blog of the Month recipient of September, so remember to go register at THUNDER so you can vote, but I'll have a poll on this blog as well which will be added to WT's result.

Here are the Wildcat Blog's Game Blog Nominees for the game vs EKU

At #5, Johnny Williams - kid led Kentucky with 7 tackles, 5 of which he assisted on.

At #4, Rafael Little - the double back tandem of Little and Dixon proved to be too much for EKU, UK rushed for over 280 on 'em. Little rushed for 135 and a score and proved to me that he's back to be the SEC best back -- if only he could get 25-30 carries a game?

At #3, Sam Maxwell - kid was up there with 6 tackles and led Kentucky with 5 solo tackles. Not being named Woodyard nor Kelley, Maxwell deserves to be nominated.

At #2, Tony Dixon - 9 carries, 77 yards and 2 scores. Helped Kentucky put the rout into EKU and was surprisingly delicious addition in the backfield backing up Little. He was just 23 yards away from Kentucky having two 100 yard rushers in the season home opener!

At #1, Andre Woodson - 20-29, 250 yards, 3 TDs and most importantly, no interceptions! Kid wasn't quite was Brohm did in his opener given the two are being included in Heisman talk around the country but the kid was effecient. The opening pump-fake-jam to Lyons for six was as sweet as spring time honey-dew, yo! You just knew Woodson was going to have a great game and he did. And droppin 50 on a team like EKU is what you're expected to do, and he did.

Fantasy Update

You can do the calculations or you can trust me, I'm an honest person, but here's where I sit after one game in my predicted fantasy points …

Actual Fantasy Points Scored: 66
My Predicted Fantasy Points Earned: 40
DIFFERENCE: -26

Not bad, I busted goose eggs on Burton, Tamme, and our K - what's his name? lol, and I only earned 2 pts for Lyons' 113, TD performance because I only predicted he would have only 65 rec. LOL, that's how it goes.

Wildcats Thunder Record

I'm tied for 3rd going 8-2 over the weekend where members pick 10 games. Not bad since I normally don't pick college games. Straight up - no spread.

LIVEBLUE

Kentucky Lays It On EKU

Wildcats 50 EKU 10



Woodson: 20-29, 250 yds, 3TDs
Lyons: 113 yds, TD
Little: 135 yds, TD

· Game Stats
· photo gallery
· Quotes

“I was pleased with how we ran the football. Above anything, that was probably the thing I was most pleased with, about how hard our backs ran. I don’t know if you guys noticed, but I noticed how our offensive line got up the field for our backs to run outside. The athleticism of this offensive line is better.” -- Rich Brooks

Stat of the Game

Kentucky had six guys who averaged 4 per carry or more. They had three guys who ran for over 50, including Dixon who ran for over 75 and Little who ran for 135.

Little had only 12 carries. Now I know Dixon impressed me immensely and I know he's playing a backup roll to Little however Little could have busted this game open for over 200 had he more carries than just 12. That's surprising my friends, Little could've owned this game, but that doesn't take away from the performance of Dixon who impressed me just as much with his running.

LIVEBLUE

Not What You Wanna Hear

Wide receiver Steve Johnson was arrested for a traffic stop. No license. Insurance. And resisted arrest.

Not what you wanna hear after your team's best wide receiver was hypin' you up. I forgive the kid though. It was a minor violation(s) and it wasn't like the kid had illicit drugs or weapons on him. He just forgot to 'click it before you get a ticket'. He'll pay his fines, maybe take a class and learn to use the seat belt, that's all. It's maybe just a little disappointing.

MORE:

· Rich Brooks says Johnson will play despite the ordeal and questions the resisting arrest charge.

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