There were no tickets to be found for Saturday’s UK/FL match-up and believe me I tried!! 71,024 fans filled Commonwealth Stadium to watch the Kentucky WildCats lose a heartbreaker to the Florida Gators 45-37. The Cats never quit, they have no quit in them. I continued to believe we would win the game until the Gators scored with 1:33 left on the clock bringing the score to 45-31. This game broke an 8-game home winning streak for UK. Even after losing, Kentucky should be seen as valid adversaries. After last week’s battle against LSU, the WildCats could have folded and fallen flat on their faces. We lost the game but we certainly didn’t fall flat on our faces. Although I am brokenhearted, I am extremely proud of my team.
Here are a few tidbits from the game;
* This made Florida’s 21st straight win over Kentucky. They are 16-10 in Lexington.
* On 3rd down conversions Florida was 7 out of 11.
* First half the Cats had the football longer and out-gained the Gators but did not outscore them.
* Kentucky gained 512 total yards. This was the most against Florida so far this season. For the game the WildCats had 512 total yards to Florida’s 427.
* Andre Woodson was 35 of 50 for 415 yards and tied his career high with five touchdowns. His pass efficiency rating was 172.7. He has thrown for at least 2 TDs in 9 straight games.
* Florida's Tim Tebow was 18 of 26 for 256 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. His pass efficiency rating was 202.71.
* Jacob Tamme became the 10th player in Kentucky history to have 100 career catches.
* Lyons’ 3 touchdowns was a career high for him.
* Injuries or sickness for the Cats - Keenan Burton suffered a strained knee in the second quarter, but returned. Tony Dixon left the game with a sprained ankle. Linebacker Johnny Williams could not finish the game because of an injured foot. Tamme has been bothered by turf toe, and suffered a bruised shin. Jason Leger did not finish the game because of a bout with the flu.
* Urban Myer on the Cats: "We made a couple of comments throughout the week that we saw this Kentucky team a couple of years ago. Rich (Brooks) is a very good friend of mine and that's one of the best-coached teams. Obviously, that offensive personnel is greatly improved as well as the entire team personnel, so we saw that coming two years ago when we played them here. That was a big win against a quality football team, a very quality football team."
Here is what the SEC East standings look like now:
South Carolina 3-2
Georgia 3-2
Florida 3-2
Kentucky 2-2
Tennessee 2-2
Vanderbilt 2-3
The Kentucky WildCats have no time to pause and lick their wounds. They must prepare for Mississippi State this Saturday. The much needed rest will come the following weekend and UK will need it for the upcoming back-to-back road games at Vanderbilt and Georgia. Then comes the season finale with big-time rival Tennessee. GO BIG BLUE!
WOW!! I am having a hard time shaking this one off! Although LSU is a great football team, I have to say Florida just has more athletes than them. It is hard to believe they lost to LSU.
Still we had every chance to win. You have to score every time you get to the blue-zone against a team like Florida and we did not. 3 bad passes in the endzone and a misstep out of bounds were 4 touchdowns. Yet, to me, the problem was our offensive line. They didn't do their job. After 6 sacks, I am sure Coach Brooks is on their backs or will be this entire week. We knew the Gators would score, but we knew we had to outscore them. I know, I know....you guys are saying "well yeah! You gotta outscore anyone to win!" I hope some understand what I mean.
We did have the chances but did not score when we should have. No one can say we quit or that we were not in the game. Kudos to that Gator squad and congrats on the win. It was a great game. In my opinion, you guys are a top 5 team.
My heart is broke but I am SO very proud of my Cats.
Tough loss BGL. Your Cats as even Urban Meyer said are worthy adversaries for any team this year. I only hope Brooks keeps your ball rolling next year with the mass exodus of premium players that are leaving after this year is done. Win 'em out, and go to a January bowl 'Cats!
Brooks will keep the ball rolling. We have some awesome recruits and QB that has the potential to be as good as Woodson. He has to mature and he has big shoes to fill. We will see.
No, husker. You are wrong about this. If that were the case there would be a lot bey-otches owned by the UK basketball team. It just isn't the case.
Our football program is not the old UK door-mat program. If you watched the game you would know we had every chance to win. I doubt the FL football team thinks of us in the light you think. I would bet they are happy they came away with the win.
No, we won't concentrate on just FL next season. We will do what we are doing now and that is focus on each game...each week.
Give us some credit husker. As I said, we fell but not on our faces. Even though we lost, the respect should build even more because of the game we played.
Hugs to you even though I should beat you up..lol
;)
Honey, sunshine, light of my life...21 straight! That must be eradicated, ASAP.
When KY pulled close, Florida pulled away, and it continued.
Beat me up? You and your daughters, or just you!
Ok, that had me laughing.
No hate intended. Just say to yourself, "21 straight."
In the past several years, I've seen my team lose winning streaks of: 35,26,34 (ok, that makes a purty woman's figure, too.) years.
If they had blown us out I might have agreed. But they did not. It was a great game and was anyone's game until 1:33 left on the clock. These Cats are nobody's bey-otch. And guess what, there are teams that have a longer winning steak against us than FL. It don't mean a thang now!
Just me...I don't need the help of my daughters....lmao ;)
Hey BGL,
I feel your pain. It was a great game. Although I'm a Tennessee fan and live in the great state of Tennessee I like UK also. Tennessee being down somewhat this year you've really got us worried this year. UK always plays UT over and above their abilities and makes a tough game of it. This year UK looks great and probably will not end up with the kind of ranking they deserve especially in the SEC. Good luck the rest of the year Except against UT HA HA HA.
Thank you charrit. That was a real tough loss for the Vols yesterday. It shocked me, especially the score. I still think TENN is turning it on and will be tough to beat. I am hoping we will be mentally prepared to do so.
It seems when a team has been on the bottom for so long, the hardest thing to overcome and become champions is the mental aspect of winning. If you do not believe you can beat a team, no matter how good you are, you will probably lose. These are hurdles UK faces in the SEC.
Thank you for dropping by and the kind words!
Last edited by bluegrassLady on October 21st at 7:19 PM.
The fact that losing to Florida is hurtful rather than thinking "Its football season?" in KY shows the momentum of the program. Having spent a portion of my childhood and in Owensboro, I find it odd/exiting to be thinking about football rather than Midnight Madness.
You are right OurCoeds! Usually I am thinking basketball right now but my football Cats have me screaming and yelling every bit as loud as I do during BB season. Don't get me wrong. I am a Cats fan in every aspect and have always supported the FB team. The fact is we usually hope for a season with more wins than losses. Now we expect to win. Coach Brooks has our program in awesome shape and our future looks bright. I am so very proud.
I knew UF would win, but I sure hoped UK could find a way. Much closer than I tought it would be. My only question is....where is the defense?
I mean the Gator D gave up over 500 yards!!! I know Woodson is good, but either he is Dan marino Jr. or the Florida D is a little suspect.
And there were no turnovers in this game. The SEC is turning into the PAC10, all O no D.
Great game, sorry about the outcome, but UK should make continued progress in the recruiting dept. based on the success of this season. AND, as you point out, they can still win the East with a little help.
ooooooh i know!!! im really thrilled dispite all the RICH BROOKS HATERS STILL LINGERING AROUND eugene ,oregon!!! thrilled for you guys who have him as coach!!!!! yea he can be a little rough around the edges!! but i reflect on how ?? many years he was at oregon as coach!!! and took so much abuse from US yea includes me!!! and then took us back to the rose bowl finnally , last time was in 1958.... went to the NFL, for a brief time... now at kentucky i hope hes found his place in college football!!!! its also fun to see a university known only for a particular sport (basketball)RUPE arena!!! to get a football team some respect!!!!! we here in oregon (university of oregon) have our football, basketball, track, womans softball, others known!@!!
Sorry about the loss mon'ami. It was a great game though. I stopped flipping to the Ohio st. game because this game was more competetive. Woodson is real good. Only pleasure I get out of your loss is it just may have made my Tigers win over Florida look better. Kentucky will be just fine though for years to come. Goodluck the rest of the way.
Hi Pete. Coach Brooks knew it would be an all offensive game. I honestly think if our line had held we would have won. Woodson threw 3 bad passes in the endzone and we stepped out of bounds a 4th time.
We are already doing well in the recruiting department. I dread losing Woodson but I hear we have a QB that will be better than him with some time.
Hey Kelly. Kentucky Basketball casts a HUGE shadow. Finally our FB program is coming out into the sun!! We love Coach Brooks. He says it like it is and that is what I like.
You can always be an Alabama fan young lady. We'll be ready for LSU in two weeks. Look for the Steelers to bounce back big after a loss in Denver that shouldn't have happened. Lute sends his love:)
You know you played a great game. It was exciting all the way until the end. Yes, the Wildcats should be extremely proud of their performance. I really thought had a shot at it!! You know I thought Tebow was great until he refused to sign an autograph for a ninth grader of mine. She was very polite about it too--and he brushed her off with "I don't have time for this" remark. I think he talks the talk and plays well--but I question how genuine it all is. Coach Meyer expects him to be a gentleman! Good luck to the Wildcats for the rest of the season!!
My condolences BGL. USC has lost their share of heartbreakers and I know how it feels. But on the bright side KY doesn't seem the type of team to let a game or two get them down, I suspect that they will bounce back next game. I can also sympathize with the injuries, they do effect the way a team plays but sadly not the way pollsters vote.
On Slshuskers comment, it seems Rich Brooks and Urban Myer are turning the SEC East into the PAC-10, lotsa offensive firepower and not enough D to stop it (Brooks has his roots in the PAC-10 at Oregon St., UCLA, and 18 years as Oregon Ducks HC, and it shows). I know it's not something SEC fans like to hear, being proud of their defensive prowess, but look at it objectively and it's true, maybe not throughout the SEC but at least in those 2 teams.
Good luck the rest of the way, my bet is the toughest part is over.
Last edited by UltTroyDos on October 22nd at 12:21 PM.
it is hard to get up emotionally for 2 big games back to back and that is what UK had to do with LSU and FLA back to back. A victory in one was probable but 2 would be pushing it for any SEC team. If FLA loses to GA, KY is back in it.
Whats the big deal about a sundress. I'm a garter man myself. Florida just had the better team. UK played their hearts out and should be proud. Tebow is without a doubt, the best player in college football.
Thank you Troy and you are right. Brooks said it would be who scored the most. Some might think that a stupid statement but I knew what he meant. Again, I say if our offensive line held we would have won the game. But no use to woulda, coulda, shoulda.
I agree, the worse is over. Let's hope FL loses to someone else that we beat!! Hope to see ya soon!
PurplePirate, I have no idea. This bunch loves sundresses!! I do have garters though...lol
I don't think FL had the better team. I agree Tebow is awesome but so is Woodson. Tebow moves better. If Woodson had that mobility maybe there would not have been 6 sacks!! It looked like all they had to do was grab his elbow :(
Ah, we all have our fav's don't we; Tebows good, Woodson's good, but I kinda like that Dixon kid from Oregon myself. And here's hoping Pete comes to his senses and leaves Sanchez as the USC starter.
Yeah, I kinda like that Dixon kid too!! BUT, I would say Tebow is probably the best player in the country. If FL has him 1 more year, they would be lucky!! I am looking forward to watching Woodson when he goes pro.
BGL,
Just wanted to say ..Great Game and Great Post. As a born and bred Gator, I was prepared for a total battle between my Gators and a much improved 'Cats squad. Being station at Ft. Knox, and having 2 sons attending North Hardin HS, same as Mr. Woodson did, am very familiar with this great QB. I figured that we would get gouged through the air, as our secindary is still far too young, and I was right. What really suprised me though was after such a great game against LSU, and ya'll not "folding" as you may have done in the past, was that ya'll couldn't seem to stop us when you needed to. Maybe this was our boys stepping up after letting the previous 2 games slip away, or ya'lls D just not sure what way to react to what we was throwin at ya'll, not sure.
Still all in all great game, and ya'll are definitely a much improved squad over years past!!
swampboy, a born and bred gator stationed in KY. I am surprised you weren't "accidently" shot ;) I am kidding! Are your sons Gator fans too?
I was very disappointed in our offensive line. Neither teams' D was great but the difference was FL stopped us when they had to and we did not. Both QBs are great but Woodson isn't as moble as Tebow. I don't think there would have been 6 sacks if he were. I know that will hurt him in the pros but the kid does have an arm!!
Glad you dropped by and hope you enjoy your stay here in the Bluegrass :)
Enjoying it so far..as for the boys, the oldest of the 2 is an (Turns my stomache!!) FSU fan, while the middle one bleeds Orange and Blue like his old man! The youngest is still out on things, he's not a sports nut (yet anyways), so who knows with him!!
I agree if Andre were more mobile it may have been a different game, may not be too big of a draw back at the next level, just needs more consistent o-line play.
And fortunately for "us" we did what we needed to this week as opposed to the loss at LSU when we couldn't do what we had done all game long which was hold them in check. All in all though I am happy so far with such a young team and what we have done.
Look forward to reading more insightful postings from ya..and looks like we both have Dawg problems this weekend!!
swamp, it is a must that we sweep the rest of our games and you guys lose this one!! lol That will be the only one I hope you lose...I promise (crosses fingers) You will probably see me and Rev really go at it on He Said She Said when basketball season starts!! I may have to go to FL and actually beat him up ;)
Tell your youngest son I need to have a chat with him before he commits to anyone!! I would have thought about giving my oldest one up for adoption if I were you!! lmao Seriously, my girls know when the Cats are playing leave Mommy alone! Now they love the WildCats too. My oldest lives in TENN now so I worry about her safety sometimes!! She stands her ground against the Vols though...made her Mother very proud!
Please hurry up and post your next article. You have no idea how big of a fan club you really have. I work with over 120 people and two-thirds read your blog on a regular basis. We're waiting pretty lady.
bluegrasslady
Knowing that you're a mother I've got the following post up. I'd like your opinion as to the merits of the topic.
It's titled Lance Help A Brother Out Your Credibility's Been Shot To Hell !
Look forward to reading your comments.
Hey All! I am a sports nut....especi ally college hoops!! You have to be if you are from Kentucky. Basketball is a religion here in The Blue Grass. We love our WildCats and can be tough on them at times. However, you will never find more loyal or passionate fans! I am a Steeler fan, I am a Reds fan but, I am a WildCat!!
BLEED BLUE!!
WildCats lose a heartbreaker to the Florida Gators 45-37. The Cats never quit, they have no quit in them. I continued to believe we would win the game until the Gators scored with 1:33 left on the clock bringing the score to 45-31. This game broke an 8-game home winning streak for UK. Even after losing, Kentucky should be seen as valid adversaries. After last week’s battle against LSU, the WildCats could have folded and fallen flat on their faces. We lost the game but we certainly didn’t fall flat on our faces. Although I am brokenhearted, I am extremely proud of my team.
