GameDay Update

That's right folks, College GameDay is in Lexington. Let me say that again, COLLEGE GAMEDAY IS IN LEXINGTON. After 7 years of hard knocks, so far this year I have seen: the Cats break the losing streak to the Cards, the Cats given retribution to LSU for the Bluegrass Miracle, and now the boys of College GameDay and Mr. Corso of headgear fame have come to LexVegas. Don't adjust your TV sets, hell has not frozen over this is the alternative universe known to many as Kentucky Football 2007.

• Is it a sign that today's dictionary.com word of the day was jocund? Here is the excerpt: jocund \JOCK-uhnd; JOH-kuhnd\, adjective:
  Full of or expressing high-spirited merriment; light-hearted; mirthful.
  Is it possible that I willbe jocund after the game once again, or will it be the stupid gator fans that are?
• Today is another Saturday in a great string of Saturdays this year. One could argue that there have been 3 games termed "the biggest game in Commonwealth history," including this one. As a Cat fan, we have experienced too many hardships in the previous years to believe that this could possibly be real, but I just pinched myself and it is really happening. Could the Cats break the NCAA's 3rd longest current losing streak to an opponent and beat the Gators for the first time since '86?
• GameDay is without a doubt the greatest TV show in the history of time. Chris, Lee and Kirk really have it rough travelling to campuses all over the country every week and talking about college football. How does one end up in their position? Word on the street is that Jack Bauer envies the GameDay trio and was unable to even get a tryout for the show. Expect cameos from Billy Clyde himself on the set. From the looks of yesterday's update on the grass outside Willy T, it looks like Lee is going to be putting the Gator head on instead of the Wildcat head. That is not necessarily a bad thing as Lee's record with the mascot head pick is not very stellar.
• The one thing the Cats have going against them is the fact that ESPN simulation picked the gators by 14 over the cats. So far this season, the simulation is perfect in picking the winner, including the Cats over the Cards in week 3.
• I'm about to take off for the gameday run, but here at derekaburden.blogspot.com we have some breaking news. Steve Brown, DC for the Cats, has been spent every waking hour researching how to stop the Cyborg known as Tim Tebow. We have just learned that coach Brown discovered a substance deep inside Mammoth Cave that will render the Florida QB ineffective. Just remember you read it here first.
• Despite the fact that Florida has 2 losses and a ranking much lower than the Bayou Bengals last week, I feel a little less confident in the Cats this week. 2 of the things that kill the Cats are mobile QBs, and trick plays. With the combo of Urban Meyer and the Cyborg Tim Tebow the Cats will face both. We just need to roll the dice and hope for a few breaks. Thus far this season, the Cats have proved that their offense is only stopped when they make turnovers, so prevent those and hopefully we will have a chance in a shootout. I say Steve Brown unveils his secret weapon late in the 3 quarter and Tebow makes a couple of mistakes that give the Cats the chance to take the lead and hold on to it until the end. I say Cats 38 Gators 31.
• By the way, those wondering about Sam Bright's thoughts on the game: "Basically we completely outman this team. With Vegas setting the spread for this weeks game as the Cats a 45 point favorite, I plan on turning it off at half-time. They have no team speed and they have no history in football. It has been years since Florida competed for the SEC, much less the NCAA championship. They fold under the pressure of GameDay and the Cats win by 100."

Have fun folks and feel free to stop by the tailgate if you come out today.

Game Day Update

It's quarter til 6 and time to get hyped up for the #1 Tigers to come into commonwealth. UK hasn't beat a #1 team since the 70's when they were cheating so needless to say a victory today would be probably the biggest in the program's history. Hopefully the house will be rockin' and the Cats will be able to keep it close and have a shot at the end to avenge some of the terrible losses we have had to the Bayou Bengals in the past.

• Sam Bright on today's big matchup: "LSU is probably the most overrated #1 team in the history of time. I would say they have only 1 or 2 guys that will play on Sundays. The talent discrepancy between Kentucky and LSU is huge. They do not belong on the same field with us."
• Am I the only one that is bothered by the fact that there are 2 teams nicknamed "Tigers" in the SEC. Sure there are 2 "Bulldogs" in the SEC as well, but there are bulldogs living in the United States. The last time a tiger lived in the US area was of the saber tooth variety in the Pre-Cambrian era. Seriously, should Auburn and LSU have to fight it out to be the "real tigers" when the animal is not even indigenous to the area? It's not like there is a lack of mascots out there. Surely, one could change and become the "Weebles" or something
• Speaking of revenge, let's review the last 3 times the Tigers and Cats have hooked up on the gridiron. Last year, LSU housed us from beginning to end putting up 49 while shutting us out. I am not yet convinced that they could have scored 200 on us if they wanted to. In 2001, the Tigers went down the field on a long methodical drive throwing a touchdown to break our hearts 29-25. And everyone knows about the Bluegrass miracle in 2002. The Cats had the team beat that won the National Championship the following year as idiots hung from the goalpost when Devery Henderson crossed the goal line.
• As always, it sounds like Big Blue Madness was an over hyped practice that turned out to be a little cheesy. It's great to bring in Billy Clyde with a bang and let the fans meet the new recruits, but unless you are 1o years old it doesn't live up to the billing.
• Short post this week cuz I've got to get rolling for my pregame run. In order for the Cats to do what they need, I really feel like Raffie has to play. He brings an element to the game as a complete running back that none of our other backs give us. He doesn't have to be 100%, but we need to see some production out of him. Dre' and the rest of the team have to play mistake-free ball and we finally have to get some production out the kicking game. The Tigers have amazing athletes all over the field, and we have to contain any crazy trick plays they try to pull off. When under pressure, Dre' needs to get rid of the ball and get back in the Heisman race like he was before the USC game. He throws for 3 TD's and Dixon runs for 1 and the Cats pull it out 31-28. GEAUX BIG BLUE!

Game Day Update

Today is the big game versus the Cocks. Despite the fact he might be the greatest football mind of our era, you have to hate Steve Spurrier when he is the coach on the other sideline. In the clutch, you know he is going to pull out a stick and draw up a play in the sand to win the game. The difference is this year the Cocks have the D to back up Spurrier's O. This D has yet to come up big against the run, and with rain likely in Columbia they will face a big test with Little, Dixon, and trush frosh Derrick (what a terrible way to spell an amazing name) Locke. And let's be serious, their QB is a frosh named Smelley. That can't bode well for them.

• Sam Bright on today's game: "In my expert opinion, this should be a pretty, dull, predictable running game for USC. Their coach doesn't seem to have much experience playing in the SEC and i think they will choke when exposed to big, D1 football. Rich Brooks needs to reign in his defense because it's going to be a ho-hum evenin of rushing."

That's all the time we have for today. As for the game, I say the Cats take it 41-27 adding a TD late to make the game seem like a bigger blowout than it was. Dre' throws for 3 TDs and takes the lead in the Heisman race. Little punches 2 more in and Lones Seiber even makes a couple of field goals.