Week 5 - Kentucky

Tide Fans –

Our first SEC road game of the year and we come out with a win! It wasn’t the best game we have played, in fact it was kind of weird, but the important thing is that we got out of Commonwealth Stadium undefeated. These are the type games that can really ruin a season if you look past them, but we got it done in the bluegrass state and you have to be happy about that!

I enjoyed our time in Kentucky as the fans were friendly, and the atmosphere was great for college football. Lexington is a pretty cool town - if you have never been, I would recommend making this trip next time we play up there. A heads up for anyone who ever stays at the Doubletree hotel – on Friday nights they like to play a little smooth jazz very late into the evening in the courtyard lobby of the hotel. I have no problem with the smooth jazz, it’s just that when I get back from a night out and need some sleep for the early game – I would rather not have to try and fall asleep to the sounds of department store shopping music. I know I am getting old, but don’t you think midnight is a little late to have Kenny G blasting throughout the hotel? The dude may as well have been standing in our room with his saxophone – it was ridiculous!

Another heads up – the Doubletree also provides your room with a free little tube of sunscreen. This would have been great had we noticed it before the game and not after. Needles to say it was a beautiful day – very sunny, and very windy. The combination of sun and wind left my wife and I looking like John Candy in Summer Rental – very sunburned. We weren’t the only ones – there were a lot of bright red faces out Saturday night with the oh so cool raccoon eyes. We are hurting today…and I will probably look like a leper in a few days when I start to peel. It was all worth it, as we once again got to witness a Tide victory!

I knew this game would be interesting. SEC road games always are – especially when they are the early game. This had disaster written all over it, but The Tide fought through the first quarter and a half before we unleashed the pain! It was nice to see us put together another 99 yard drive for a touchdown – that shows guts. With 40 seconds left in the first half we had just scored so I figure what a great time to bolt for the bathroom before the line gets too long. You guessed it…I missed the fumble recovery for the touchdown. I heard the crowd roar and thought…crap Kentucky freaking scored. I bolted out of the restroom much to my surprise to find out what had happened. This always seems to happen to me – missing a big play. I was at the 1996 Summer Olympics and decided to go get something to eat right before Carl Lewis took his final long jump for the gold medal…yes once again I hear the crowd roar and wonder what could have happened. Same thing happened when Mark McGwire was about to beat the home run record – a commercial came on so I went outside to check on my dog real quick, and he hits the record breaking home run while I am outside. I am starting to find it comical.

On to some actual analysis. Offense looked ok in this game – not great, but not terrible. I was a little disappointed in how Kentucky stopped our running attack, minus a few plays. We could not run up the middle. Passing looked pretty good – McElroy was solid here. He just throws great passes! Watching the replay, I was amazed at how spot on his throws are! I know I say this every week, but he is just damn good. Julio had a few grabs, but nothing real big. Colin Peek made some great plays, as did Darius Hanks. Ingram and Richardson were contained more than they usually are, and I am a little worried about this. We are going to need the run next week in Oxford – so hopefully our power run will be back.

Defense looked pretty good, and came up with some great turnovers! I was concerned about how Kentucky was moving the ball by running it. I think we really missed having Hightower in the middle here. This is an area that Ole Miss will try to exploit next week with their Wildcat, so we better pin this up! Some big plays by Rolondo McClain, including an interception and a tip ball to lead to another interception. He is an awesome player and it is amazing to see how he is always near the ball. I hope he plays his senior year so we can once again have McClain and Hightower in the middle!

Big game next week! Ole Miss has lost, so they were finally exposed. I still think they have a very dangerous team, and now the pressure of being highly ranked is off of them. They will be ready to play next week, so we will need our “A” game all day. If we can contain their flashy wildcat running plays, and get their QB Snead rattled with a good pass rush, we should come out just fine. I think our offense will do well against Ole Miss. We need to find a way to get the ball to Julio more, and I think our running game will be back where it has been next week. It will be a close game, but I think the men in Crimson put together a solid effort and come out on top!

Once again I will be heading to Oxford, so let me know if you will be there! I’m sure we will have a great showing of fans – we always do! Let’s get loud and show those Rebel fans how to play football when you are highly ranked! Hopefully we will have great weather for the game, and yes – I have already packed my sunscreen.
I hope everyone has a great week, and Roll Tide!

Jason