Kentucky fans of all ages are not happy with UK's clock management and should be upset. (Vicky Graff Photo)
There are a lot of reasons that Kentucky lost 34-14 at Georgia on Saturday.
The most obvious is that the Bulldogs have better players, especially when it comes to big playmakers on offense, where the Cats might have the least explosive group of skilled players in the Southeastern Conference.
However, nothing sums up what continues to be an unbelievable scenario for an SEC team when it comes to clock management. No team has been worse at that than Kentucky for several years, and it just keeps getting worse.
Kentucky fell behind 14-0 at Georgia, but surprisingly showed some signs of life when quarterback Cutter Boley led a touchdown drive to cut the lead to 14-7. Even though Georgia answered with another touchdown, Kentucky had a chance to cut into the lead at the end of the half, knowing it would also get the ball to start the second half.
Instead, UK imploded again with time management that would be questionable in a middle school game. ABC-TV analyst Jesse Palmer, a former college and NFL quarterback, blasted UK for “terrible” clock management at the end of the half, but for Kentucky fans, it was a familiar wasted opportunity.
Kentucky started a drive at its own 35 with 2:45 left in the first half, but four plays later had a third-and-one at the Georgia 43 with 1 minute, 17 seconds left in the half. However, mass confusion set in. The clock kept running until Stoops finally called a timeout with 49 seconds left. That was 28 seconds after the ball was marked ready for play.
After the timeout, Boley completed a 7-yard pass to Kendrick Law and then hit Willie Rodriguez with a 5-yard pass to the Georgia 31 with 34 seconds left. Next came an 11-yard pass to Seth McGowan to the 20. After a controversial incompletion, Boley found Ja’Mori Maclin for 12 yards to the 14. However, the UK was about out of time. After Boley spiked the ball, it had time for one more play with 08 on the clock, but the pass was incomplete.
That left time for a 26-yard field goal try by Jacob Kauwe, who had not missed a kick all season. But guess what? He missed, and Georgia led 21-7 at halftime.
After the game, Tom Leach asked Stoops about that sequence on the UK Radio Network.
“On that play (when UK wasted time), it was a one-way play, but the ball was in the middle of the field. Our formation and the way we run it only goes one way,” Stoops said. “There was some confusion getting lined up. I should have called the timeout earlier.”
But here is what Stoops added that he surely has to regret saying and wishes he could have a do-over to take it back.
“At the end of the day, it didn’t cost us getting the three points,” Stoops said.
No, it did’, but it could have cost UK a touchdown because without wasting 20 seconds UK could have run two, maybe three, more plays at the end of the half. Stoops had to know that. Maybe he just did not want to admit it, but he just couldn’t play it off by saying screwing up clock management was not really a big deal.
11 Responses
Larry, Stoops is beyond caring anymore. All he cares about his getting paid. Apparently, the complaints from BBN are eating at him just like it did with Calipari his last 2 years. Maybe if BBN keeps voicing their desire for him to leave…he eventually will, even if he doesn't have another school to go to.
Stoops does not want to be here. He knows that he is no longer wanted, and but for the stupid contract that Barnhart provided, he would be gone already.
The only plausible explanation for his refusal to simply move on is two fold. First, no one else wants him, and second, he will drain UK of every $1 million he can before the inevitable exit.
A person who behaves this way is ethically challenged at best.
And, to Barry's point, YES, keep the drum beat of incompetent/uninterested coaching pounding. I have learned over the years, that if there is anything a fan can do to bring about coaching changes when needed, it is constant pounding of the drum.
Barnhart, Stoops, and Stoops' entire staff must go, TODAY!!!!
As for yesterday's total absence of clock management at the end of the first half, it has become so commonplace with his teams that it was absolutely no surprise as this fan watched the keystone cops run around their formation for 30 seconds before Boley had to take the unnecessary timeout.
The players are unprepared. This has nothing to do with talent disparities. It has everything to do with coaching disparities.
One other thing that fans can do is STOP GOING TO THE GAMES
An empty stadium game after game would send an unmistakable message.
Stay, Coach. Bleed them for every dime that is stated in the contract. Barnhart wanted to make sure you didn't leave for another school and you've honored your part of the deal.
I'm sure A&M is kicking themselves in the butt for not signing you.
You're the Kentucky coach, and I hope to stay to the final day of the contract.
Hamden fired!
I have not been able to confirm that
I saw earlier this evening that Hamdan would be fired on Tuesday.
Is it not a done deal?
Not sure reports are true Professor
Hamden fired is too little too late.
He should not have been hired.
Definitely should have been fired before 2025
Stoops chose now to fire him to try to put the blame on Hamden instead of admitting he and Hamden are both losers.
Best thing to do is clean the house across the board start from scratch. It's a sinking ship that's getting deeper in the water every week.
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