WILDCATS GET SOME RESPECT
Monday 9/30/02
Florida made a ton of stupid mistakes, Florida played the worst special-teams game a team could play, Florida had a bunch of turnovers, blah blah blah… Florida could have done all of these things and more and still blown out Kentucky just about any other year over the past decade. If Florida has consistently just ran it up on one opponent over the last decade it has been Kentucky. Not Saturday. The Kentucky players, as they should, were talking about how a loss is still a loss but I have to disagree. This a big boost to the Kentucky program. They were good enough to take advantage of all the Florida mistakes and apply pressure to the mighty Gators in the Swamp.
After being shut out in the first half, the Wildcats stormed back capitalizing on Florida miscues and making huge special teams plays. They were even driving for the winning score in the 4th quarter. A rare occurrence to be sure but there they were. However the Gators were still just too good and an interception ended it. Florida is still the better team but to Kentucky’s credit, the gap has been narrowed. This looked like a truly great game. Unfortunately I was passed out sick during the pivotal 3rd quarter and had to get the info through replays but… it sure looked like a great quarter.
The big-time trios for each side were the main performers for each team especially the WRs. For Florida: Grossman had over 300 yards passing, Graham had 100 yards rushing and Taylor Jacobs had nearly 200 yards receiving. For Kentucky: Jared Lorenzen played a very steady game completing a high percentage for almost 200 yards with one critical INT, RB Artose Pinner had almost 100 yards and WR Derek Abney had a kickoff return for a TD AND a punt return for a TD. Unbelievable special teams performance.
Elsewhere Saturday, Bama got a big win at Arkansas. Bama played a great game but Arkansas looks to have the same problems it had last year with less of a defensive line. The Razorbacks just don’t have any semblance of a passing game. Right now Arkansas and Miss St looked to be solidly in the cellar in the SEC West till either team can mount a comeback. It doesn’t get any easier for Arkansas as they go to Tennessee and then Auburn in the next 2 weeks. Meanwhile Bama’s vaunted OL seems to be hitting on all cylinders. Arkansas and Southern Miss both stacked the line against Bama and still couldn’t stop them and both teams have decent defenses.
An early lead helped steady redshirt freshman Brodie Croyle and he played a much better game than most including myself thought he could. A sharp start was hurt somewhat by some erratic throws later but on one bomb in the 4th quarter Croyle displayed his strong arm. He heaved a nearly 60 yard pass for a TD. This one was pretty much over as soon as Bama got up 14-0 as Arkansas simply does not have a passing game to come back. Next week we should see how good the Bama defense is when Georgia comes to town with a much better offense…
LSU opened it’s title defense with a solid win over Miss St. Miss St once again hung tough but for the second week in a row the game got blown open on key mistakes. LSU’s defense looked very good. However LSU continues to have big problems in the passing game. Everywhere else they are as good as anybody. Good OL, great RBs and Domanick Davis is the best kick returner in the conference. However while LSU rolled up over 250+ yards rushing they could only amass a pitiful 52 yards passing on a 4-12 performance from Matt Mauck. That is truly horrible.
The only other news of note was crazy game in Auburn late Saturday night. Auburn a huge favorite over Syracuse came out flat and made a few mistakes and quickly got down 17-0. Daniel Cobb came out highly erratic for the second week in a row and was relieved in the second half by backup Jason Campbell. Campbell hit 2 TDs and MVP RB Carnell Williams had over 200 yards rushing to help Auburn win in 3 OTs. A big win but Auburn definitely still has some QB problems. With Bama ineligible and most other West teams having huge holes to fill it is still an absolute crapshoot as to who will win it.
Other news and notes… How ticked off were the Vol faithful after UT almost got down 21-7 at halftime to Rutgers? Ouch… South Carolina escaped the Vandy trap that many thought might get them this year… Georgia’s David Greene is still just not looking the same as last year even with DJ Shockley out of the picture… Till next week.