Well, I'm happy to report when I woke up this morning, UK's 43-37 victory over LSU was NOT a dream. ESPN has been happy to repeatedly remind me of the feat with Sportscenter and their site. It's quite liberating to navigate to ESPN.com and be greeted by this picture:
The Herald-Leader also posted a video of the game's fantastic finish:
There's also an animated GIF of Dicky Lyon's devastating block on LSU safety Craig Steltz.
If the GIF doesn't, you know, animate, try going to this thread at Catspause.com to see it.
As for analysis, what else is there really to say? UK just beat the number one team in the country and as a homer for UK, we are all kinda speechless. Nevertheless, game balls go out to Lones Seiber, Andre Woodson, Jeremy Jarmon, Dicky Lyons, Jr, Jacob Tamme, THE ENTIRE UK OFFENSIVE LINE (who held LSU to 0 -- that's right, ZERO -- sacks), Trevard Lindley, Steve Johnson, T. C. Drake, Braxton Kelley, Coach Brooks... the list goes on and on.
Another thing, many are questioning Les Miles' decision to run the ball in the 3rd overtime... well, UK did come in with the reputation of NOT being able to stop the run and I think he was just playing the odds... Perhaps he should've called pass, but it's not like Matt Flynn was burning it up during the game, although, he was victimized by a ton of dropped passes.
In this case, I think some credit is due to UK's defense and particularly Braxton Kelley for making a helluva stop on 4th and 2.
Enjoy this Cat fans because it doesn't come around very often (I feel like I've typed this sentence already this season) and there are more games to be played. We can't get caught being hungover with beating LSU because a team some of you may have heard of is coming to town on Saturday: The Florida Gators... and we all know just who great UK has done against them in, oh, the last 22 or so years.
Stepping up for an ineffective Keenan Burton, Stevie Johnson once again played savior for the 2007 UK Football season. His catch against LSU gave the Cats the go-ahead score as UK beat a number 1 team for the first since -- say it loud -- 1964.
Go on with your bad self, Stevie. Should be an interesting college poll tomorrow.
After a 3-overtime war, the University of Kentucky Wildcats did something they haven't done since 1964:
BEAT A NUMBER 1 RANKED TEAM!!!!!!!
That's right, the UK Wildcats beat the LSU Tigers in a 3-overtime classic by the score of 43-37. The Cats stopped the Tigers on 4th and 2 in the 3rd OT to preserve the win. Stevie Johnson, the destroyer of previous programs like Louisville, caught the winning touchdown pass.
I'm speechless right now and I haven't been able to form coherent sentences for about 30 minutes. I'll be back later with a full write-up. My God... they DID IT!!!!!
I'm still licking the wounds from the South Carolina debacle... there's nothing like watching your team give games away AFTER you thought they had turned such a corner. Oh well, at least my preseason predictions are still intact (I picked the Cats to lose to the Cocks). I really don't have much else to say about the game because if I have to relive those damn mistakes, I'll probably put my keyboard through my monitor.
I did, however, enjoy the live-blog exercise, although, it would've been nice if you all would've participated. Perhaps I need to spam myself a little more around here. ;) Oh yeah, I have a laptop now so future live-blog events will be MUCH easier.
Anyway, this upcoming weekend is going to be huge if you are a fan of UK Athletics. First off, on Friday, the first practice of the upcoming college basketball begins (better known as Big Blue Madness). The basketball Cats will kick-off the 2007-08 season at 9pm EST in front of a sold-out Rupp Arena.
I am expecting the roof to be torn off because the hype surrounding the Billy Gillispie hire and the Patrick Patterson signing has got Cat fans frothing at the mouth. Can BCG (Billy Clyde Gillispie) return the Cats to upper-prominence? It certainly looks that way... at least from an initial prognosis.
While most of the player hype is focused on Patterson, I personally can't wait to see Alex Legion. I got to watch him in a couple of scrimmages during the summer and let me just say this kid is INCREDIBLY explosive.
He absolutely has springs in his legs and one of the quicker releases I've ever seen.
It will be damn near impossible to keep him out of the line-up... Not to mention he's quite confident in his abilities, an attribute I certainly admire. Speaking to the Herald-Leader, his confidence is very apparent.
On adjusting to college:
"I think I've made the adjustment quite well. Some days I dominate. Some days I look like the best player out there."
When asked about starting and playing time importance:
"Real important. I'm not going to lie. I came here to start and play. I don't think any college player comes to be the sixth man. If (starting) doesn't happen, I'll want to be the best man off the bench."
Who his game is comparable to:
"Most AAU analysts compare me to Ray Allen, which is fairly accurate."
You have absolutely got to love a player with that much skill and self-assuredness. Legion will be a joy to watch while he's in a Cat uniform and beyond.
Of course, if basketball's not your thing (a UK fan? Yeah, right), there is a football game of note to be played on Saturday as well. That's right, the number one team in the country travels to Lexington for what most see as a beatdown of the Cats. While I'm not silly enough to say we are going to beat LSU, I do think if the offensive line gives Woodson time to throw, we'll be in it at the end.
I'm also not that impressed with LSU offense, but of course, as I say that, they'll probably score 1000 on Saturday. Although, if Wesley Woodyard and company can contain Hester and the Trevard Lindey can take his side of the field away, I think the Cats can make this a competitive match-up...
Of course, we all remember what happened the last time LSU came to Lexington: they made the college football play of the year with the Bluegrass Miracle (no links, if you are that curious, go YouTube it).
All I'll say is this, if UK is in a position where another Bluegrass Miracle is needed for LSU to win, I'll be ecstatic.
Enjoy the weekend Cats fans. It's gonna be a big one.
Here's another pic of one of the UK Dance Team members. Just because. Her name is Regan Judd. No relation to Ashley... that I know of.
While most of the player hype is focused on Patterson, I personally can't wait to see Alex Legion. I got to watch him in a couple of scrimmages during the summer and let me just say this kid is INCREDIBLY explosive. 
