Vicky Graff Photo
SEC Network/ESPN announcer Tom Hart felt like a lot of Kentucky fans when he watched the Cats take a commanding 14-0 lead over Missouri in the first quarter before coach Mark Stoops’ team fell apart and lost 38-21.
“I thought that game was over. We went to a commercial break at 14-0 and I said, ‘This thing is over.’ It was not just because it was 14-0 because plenty of teams have come back from 14 down or blown 14-point leads,” Hart said. “It was the dominance Kentucky showed.
“They imposed their will. It was like a boxer who had a guy on the mat and you just wondered when the knockout blow would come or the other guy would throw in the towel. To me, that is what was so shocking. I have never seen a team dominate so much and then let the game get away like that.”
Kentucky has home games left with Tennessee and Alabama along with road games at Mississippi State, South Carolina and Louisville. Some now wonder if Kentucky will win another game. Hart is not one of them.
“If you only take what Kentucky showed the last three quarters against Missouri, you might feel that way (about not winning). But that’s not how college football works,” Hart said. “There is great inconsistency every week across the country because of the maturity level of players.
“I still see this as a Kentucky team with incredible promise and ability. The problem in that (Missouri) game was focus. I think the team will be focused when Alabama comes to town. It should be focused when they get Tennessee. Winning those types of games against those opponents would not surprise me.
“The tendency is to overreact to what you see on a given Saturday. But remember this is still the same team that beat the snot out of Florida. The season is not over yet.”
Kentucky hosts Tennessee tonight.
6 Responses
This team has skills, but lacks discipline and mental toughness. The skills will get you wins over the Popcorn States, but not the better teams in the SEC.
Barry, I saw you made a comment about me being an underachiever. That was the article about Stoops and football. You don’t know what I have achieved. However I know for a Fact you’re a whiney crybaby because you do with every comment on any subject.
Jimmy, I did not say you were an underachiever. I said you seem to be more comfortable with underachievers and underachievement, in this case it pertained to our underachieving football team and coaches. I don’t attack the contributors here; I just agree or disagree with their opinions. The difference between us is that you attack the person, not the opinion. Everybody else can see what that tells about you with me having to say anything.
You said, "underachievers like you".
Jimmy, you still have misread my message and it’s intent, but if putting me down makes you feel better about yourself, go ahead…I can take it and am a better man for doing so.
What this Kentucky team needs tonight is better coaching, from top to bottom. Also. If UK’s skill players are the real deal, they must prove it tonight. Ray Davis has already done his part, and made his case. Others must do so to show they belong in the competition at this level.