By LEE ANN HERRING-OLVEDO
Under a full harvest moon on Saturday, Commonwealth Stadium had a different aroma in the air as the Cats took on No. 6 South Carolina. As the game kicked off, the expectations for this young Cats team were far from high, especially knowing what the ole South Carolina ball coach had up his sleeve. However, as the game picked up pace this young team surprised the hell out of a lot of disbelievers in the first half. After the injury to Maxwell Smith early in the game, the Cats had to go all in with the youth of this team to take the reins for Kentucky.
I’m sure more than a few fans in the Big Blue Nation were at the edge of their seats to see just what the true freshman QB from Alabama would prove to be for this Kentucky team. Jalen Whitlow found himself in the same position to move this team forward that Maxwell Smith did only a year ago as a true freshman taking the lead. It seemed almost prophetic when Whitlow was in for Smith and quickly found him sacked in his first play. A feeling that we at Kentucky know too well is not to buy too much into the hype of any player; at least on the football field until they show us what they can really do.
While it didn’t show right then and there, the Kentucky defense would prove to will Whitlow in to work and to make it pay off in the first half. After the Cats D was able to make several stops on the Gamecocks, Whiltlow and the offense looked far from youthful. They were able to produce some memorable drives for scores to give them the early lead several times through the course of the first half.
As the first half closed, there were enough playmakers from both sides of the ball on the Kentucky defense and offense that had everyone in the stadium in disbelief; from blocked punts, to scoring drives, to fumble recoveries. This is the team that seemed unrecognizable, and for once they were locked and loaded and giving the No. 6 team in the country a scare. Whether or not Steve Spurrier was playing possum or not in this half, this Kentucky team came out of nowhere in most people’s eyes. But, for me, this is the team I knew was always there since I started writing about this team.
Then it hit me. Then, at that moment there was finally something tangible to show after all the pieces I had written about the talent and ability of this team. Yes, as a sports writer I have the access to write and share what most fans don’t get to see on a daily basis. As a reader you then have to go on my trust and believe that I am not just writing to raise support for this team, and to create an illusion of greatness.
For one moment, the believers and non-believers actually witnessed Kentucky magic. It’s a youthful emergence that can and will make this team compete in the SEC, if given the chance to do it a new way.
Carl Jung once said, “Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.”
For once, Kentucky looked like a team with fire and passion. Whatever spell was cast for the first half is what we need to continue to go with down the road, and we could really surprise some people. The most important thing to take away from this game is also found in the inabilities of the program. No matter how well we did the first half, the Kentucky team we know all too well seemed to show back up in the second half. South Carolina railroaded us and shut us down mentally and physically, period.
Now, what to do about it is simply to continue to give that team we saw in the first half against S.C. the means to keep pressing on and gaining experience. That begins with creating a belief that the only way to endure, is to play from within. They must use that anger, desire and desperation to win every single quarter, both mentally and physically.
This young team does not scare me. On the contrary they proved to me and I hope to a lot of others on the fence that they can play in the big show, if given the opportunity. Kentucky is more locked and loaded than we think. We have to work on that mental game so we aren’t shut down by mistakes and failures, but rather use it to fuel our intensity; and I guarantee you that magic we got a glance of will return to the commonwealth and on the road.
9 Responses to Young Wildcats showed they can play against top team and now must keep doing it
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Send me in Lee Ann I’m fired up! I loved and believe too that these young men are “Lock and Loaded” Wake up BBN a win is on the way!!!!!
Oh that I wish it were true. “If wishes were horses, beggers would ride”. True then and true now.
If we can continue to play for something more and mix the physical with the mental idea that we will win vs. we can or might win that can do a whole lot. Other teams may see us at weak but that could be an advantage if they let there guard down and we can expose there looks and capitalize on that!
Lee Ann, thank you — and you, too, shinny. Your words “FIRE and PASSION ” are right on target. Sure, reality is that the fire and passion dwindled away in that second half (and, true, that’s something that may not have occurred if we had somehow gotten that ball into the endzone prior to halftime, building a bigger lead and making South Carolina less comfortable with rushing so much the second half, something Spurrier himself admitted — or at least made Spurrier and his Gamecocks pay for their mistake and letting us carry the momentum into the second half, rather than, yes, messing up and wasting such a great opportunity). YET, the FIRE AND PASSION had still been so obvious — both in regard to our players AND to our much-maligned head coach. I thank you two because it seems so many are so caught up in the “hot seat” talk that they are not even mentioning that FIRE and PASSION the two of you had definitely noticed and have discussed here.
No, unfortunately, that does not mean this team will win Saturday or, in fact, any other game this season. Regardless, though, our players’ still playing hard and with such fire and passion in the face of a record of one win and such adversity in facing a tough SEC schedule deserves noting, in my opinion. Too, honestly, when I had seen Joker run out on that field and enthusiastically, jubilantly, wildly, greet his defense that had just stopped the sixth-ranked team in the nation on the goalline, leaping up to chest-bump senior defender Martavious Neloms, I had had chill bumps! FIRED UP — yes, indeed, I, too,had been, Lee Ann and shinny! Further, anyone who had not been FIRED UP watching that, either in the stands or watching at home, does not have the HEART some of these Wildcats have, for sure. Further, because of what I witnessed that first half, I’m pulling even harder for these guys now, something I had really thought impossible. Again, it’s KUDOS to the two of you for expressing your observations and positive attitudes about that fire and passion we had seen that first half — even though, sure, there’s no moral victory whatsover. If only, though, we could somehow, through gained experience and confidence and some forced turnvoers play FOUR quarters like that!
In addition, if anyone did not notice how many talented true freshmen, redshirt freshmen, and sophomores were a part of that PASSION, then he or she is totally obsessed with the “Joker must go” talk and not widely opening one’s eyes. I truely believe the future can be bright for these youngsters (and, yes, like others, I’m thinking such is “in the cards” for next season). Too, yes, I, too, am FIRED UP about that — and hoping and praying these guys can still pull off a win Saturday after having the misfortune of losing their quarterback who had been leading the SEC in passing prior to his likely last game this season. It’s now in the hands of two true freshmen, and that’s scary, but, then again, I’m thinking some of these guys are tougher than we had thought. Maybe we had all better start noticing AND better supporting! GO CATS! BEAT MSU!
I want to add one comment. Even though I mentioned that “bright future” might not be until next season, I am NOT giving up on THIS season!!! It’s ONE game at a time. What a win over the top 20 MSU Bulldogs could do for our Wildcats! Sure, for some it’s Keeneland, and for others, yes, the current forecast is for rain. Yet, there’s NO PLACE I had rather be Saturday, rain or shine, than in Commonwealth Stadium, cheering on my Wildcats. May thousands upon thousands decide to forget the current record and any thoughts of who’s the coach or going to be the coach and be there with FIRE and PASSION, matching what our Wildcats had shown on the field that first half last Saturday — FIRED UP to help their Wildcats have the best possible chance of pulling off the upset. Rant over (smiley face).
Thanks Tana, always for your geniune and well thought out responses. Fire and passion can and do go a long way when time our tough. The cats have seen there fair share of rocky roads leading up to now. But as I said it was good to see what I have been writing about for so long was now tangibly seen by others this past saturday. If we continue to play that way longer and longer each game we are on our way. We can never allow a team even in their darkest hour to give up on a seasonb because then they will always resort to giving up. We need to push these kids because we know what they can do. I hope the coaches especially Joker will continue to let these young players get the experience and allow them to be great. To hold them back will only hold us back!
2 word reply- Bobby Petrino
Been hearing that Petrino could come into play lot more than I would have ever imagined
Its is building strong in the rumor mill that he could come into play here at Kentucky and of course Charlie Strong could be heading to Arkansas! We shall see what direction the cats choose to go! However, i would like to see Pat Washington get a chance if we go in house. Or look for someone young and fresh that could compliment the youth we have and revive the spirit of the program!