Nov 2, 20142 min
By Ira D. Combs
Tri State Sports Media Services Inc.
For all those folks across the Commonwealth who thought Mark Stoops and his Wildcat football team was set to win their sixth game of the season and become bowl eligible at Columbia, Mo., well, evidently, you haven’t seen the Tigers play or you're lacking some credibility in your college football evaluation skills. Missouri was clearly a better football team than the Wildcats especially when the UK offense was matched up against the Missouri defense.
Oh yes, that final score of 20-10 was no indication at all of how Missouri was clearly in the driver’s seat from early in the second quarter to the final horn.
Although I’ll be the first to admit Stoops is spiking the Wildcat Gatorade with some type of unique potion because this team continues to show some serious "no quit" attitude and a solid mindset that if there is time on the clock, there is no quit in the heart. This may seem trivial to some UK football fans but it is how foundations are laid for future success and Ws. However, until this young team grows some more both (physically and fundamentally), it will come up short in the win column just like it has the last two weekends and it will continue to fight through some aggravating growing pains the remainder of this season.
Maybe they can squeeze out that sixth win or maybe they won’t. The only bet I would lay down is that these Wildcat gridiron warriors won’t quit. Their coach won’t let them and the foundation for future success is definitely being laid.
Wildcats Take On Georgia For Senior Day Festivities and Home Finale
Two things won’t happen this coming Saturday when UK host the Georgia Bulldogs (12:00 noon, ESPN) for the annual Senior Day festivities and home finale that usually happens.
You won’t hear “Rocky Top” played by the Georgia band as UT is no longer the last opponent of the season -- home or away. And take a long look and perhaps take some photos of the Commonwealth Stadium skyline/structure because it will never be the same. When you arrive next September for the 2015 season opener against Louisiana Lafayette, CWS will be a new completely modernized college football venue, a renovation to the tune of $110 million.
The game itself against the Bulldogs is kind of a good news and bad news situation. First, the good news: the Dogs' stud running back Todd Gurley will sit out the UK game for his final penalty administered by NCAA for rules violations. The bad news: the Bulldogs will be at fever pitch emotionally and physically since Florida laid a pretty good whipping on them last Saturday and knocked them out of first place in the SEC East.
You can go online to www.combsbrothersonkysports.com for more coverage of UK football and basketball as well as KHSAA football and basketball, and you can now follow me on twitter at @combsbrothers5.