UK-EKU Game Thread

[Spiritof96]

^^^Probably was an unnecessary hit as far as the play was concerned but I hate the targeting call when the "defenseless" player dropped his head before contact and that's the only reason the hit was above the shoulders. Also Bowen had his forearm up on the hit -- wasn't purely helmet to helmet. Real tough call to eject a new player on in my opinion.

I can accept unnecessary roughness... I can't accept that THAT was targeting. Incidental helmet contact should not get anyone EJECTED.

It is exhibit A as to why the rule should go. You already had an unnecessary roughness call... I HATE ALL of the defenseless player rules.

[KevinHall]

It was a win. That's about all the good you can say about it though. They have to find a way to get four more of these. But the real schedule kicks in next week. Other than Eastern Michigan there won't be an easy game on the schedule and maybe not even EMU considering what we saw today.

[boomdaddy]

As a long time Kentucky fan, I am glad that they are 2-0. I am hoping for the best, but have lowered my expectations for the season. They have come out again with a slow start to the season. This team, based on its performance in the first two games, will not have a winning season. I am still confused as to why they look less polished than they should. Stoops and staff need to fix things in a week. Ugh! I compare the first two games like going to the dentist. It is time to make it a party and not a trip to the dentist.

[Joneslab]

As a long time Kentucky fan, I am glad that they are 2-0. I am hoping for the best, but have lowered my expectations for the season. They have come out again with a slow start to the season. This team, based on its performance in the first two games, will not have a winning season. I am still confused as to why they look less polished than they should. Stoops and staff need to fix things in a week. Ugh! I compare the first two games like going to the dentist. It is time to make it a party and not a trip to the dentist.

I think the going to the dentist thing is simply the way we're going to have to win.

Not a whole lot of electric playmakers. A couple of the playmakers we do have (Snell, Johnson) are not overly flashy. And we all know by this point that Stoops' MO isn't to razzle dazzle teams into submission, but rather to methodically unfray the opponent so they'll be gassed and ready to quit by the end.

We've had four years of evidence of this now. My only hesitation about this team is that the offensive line looks way more sketchy than I thought, and the loss of Boom Williams and Jeff Badet may be more substantial than they at first seemed.

I hope that's not the case and that these first two games have been a little deceiving. But just in terms of the style of play, those two games have been right in Stoops' wheelhouse. The guy's a grinder.

[Spiritof96]

I think the going to the dentist thing is simply the way we're going to have to win.

Not a whole lot of electric playmakers. A couple of the playmakers we do have (Snell, Johnson) are not overly flashy. And we all know by this point that Stoops' MO isn't to razzle dazzle teams into submission, but rather to methodically unfray the opponent so they'll be gassed and ready to quit by the end.

We've had four years of evidence of this now. My only hesitation about this team is that the offensive line looks way more sketchy than I thought, and the loss of Boom Williams and Jeff Badet may be more substantial than they at first seemed.

I hope that's not the case and that these first two games have been a little deceiving. But just in terms of the style of play, those two games have been right in Stoops' wheelhouse. The guy's a grinder.

Badet had a really nice catch at OSU. Wish we still had him....

[Joneslab]

Stoops just said in the weekly press conference that if we had Badet, Boom, Mosier, and Baker we'd be a different team.

An obvious comment but still unusual to hear a guy like Stoops say that. Seems like he realizes there are some significant gaps particular in our offensive attack.

[boomdaddy]

It is hard to predict a transfer of a star player or who will get injured. Juco stars can fill those voids But, I would think that every team is looking for the same juco stars to fill holes. like a pass rusher, run stopper, speedy receiver, or big O lineman who could be a starter.

RBs can emerge out of nowhere, that is why I am anxious to see other RBs get a chance to play. I am aware that Stoops agreed with the targeting call on Bowden in a public statement. Not sure if he really believes that or just said it to not have a feud with the officials. I thought of all the calls, that was the most absurd, because it was not malicious. They might as well play flag football if they are going to call it like that.

The staff is playing Bowden and it would have been nice to see him play the whole game, instead of being ejected on a BS call. I do think Bowden will emerge as a play maker, when he gets enough snaps under his belt.

[Matt Dillon]

Bowden will be a play maker. You can count on it.

[Lighthouse]

I didn't see the play mentioned above, but in both FB and BB, a flagrant foul is not solely called on the severity of the foul.

[Spiritof96]

I didn't see the play mentioned above, but in both FB and BB, a flagrant foul is not solely called on the severity of the foul.

Here you go:

http://kentuckysportsradio.com/football-2/lynn-bowden-ejected-for-targeting-and-already-tweeting-about-it/

http://kentuckysportsradio.com/football-2/today-on-ksr-the-cats-are-undefeated/

[Lighthouse]

Although he made contact with his shoulder, he lead with his helmet and that's clear targeting according to the rule. I can see why most everybody sees it different, but that's an easy fix. All he had to do was lead with the shoulder.

[Spiritof96]

Although he made contact with his shoulder, he lead with his helmet and that's clear targeting according to the rule. I can see why most everybody sees it different, but that's an easy fix. All he had to do was lead with the shoulder.

No! Respectfully read the rule wrt leading with the helmet. For a foul to be targeting one of the above must have taken place.

• Launching, or “leaving his feet to attack an opponent by an upward and forward thrust of the body to make forcible contact in the head or neck area” He didn't launch.
• A crouch and upward thrust to make head or neck contact, even if the hitter still has feet on the ground He didn't make an upward thrust and I'm doubtful that he hit him anywhere but the shoulder and chest. Plus the guy ducked into the hit.

• Leading with helmet, shoulder, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack with forcible contact at the head or neck area. Emphasis mine. He didn't do the part in bold.
• Lowering the head before attacking by initiating forcible contact with the crown of the helmet He didn't do this either.

[Lighthouse]

I have the tape of the game and I'll look at it tomorrow. The video you sent didn't show the hit very well except on one short view. I want to see the whole play clearly. Do you have any idea when the play happened?

[Spiritof96]

I have the tape of the game and I'll look at it tomorrow. The video you sent didn't show the hit very well except on one short view. I want to see the whole play clearly. Do you have any idea when the play happened?

First half. Not sure which series. I think UK's 3rd possession but I can't be sure. It was about 20-30 minutes after kickoff based on when people were tweeting about it.

[Lighthouse]

OK I just watched every angle shown and I believe the call was correct. Two things I saw that I didn't like. First, there was no flag thrown on the field that I saw. Second, the announcers had no idea what they were talking about on this play. Here's the way I saw the play, first in real time and then frame by frame. #35 white was running upright and just before contact, saw #1 blue coming and lowered his head a little. #1 blue was running in a more crouched position and just before contact raised up and into the helmet of #35 white. Initial contact was helmet to helmet and in an upward movement. If you saw it different, we will just have to agree to disagree. Go Cats!