It’s the optimism hour everyone! Let’s look at some good things that may come out of UK’s horrid play the last few weeks.

1) Jodie’s stock has dropped. Period. He is in no way a first-rounder. Bad for him, good for the Cats. It would be a horrible decision if he took the jump. If the decline continues he may not be drafted even if he wanted to. Let’s review his weaknesses: bad bad bad a/to ratio, gambles too much on D, dribbles into traffic, limited ball handling ability, limited vision on the fast break, and unwillingness to use full extent of athletic ability in the lane. I don’t want to sound like I’m bashing the Cats’ best scorer; really, I think he’s one of the all-time greatest scorers in UK history. The good news for Jodie: these are all things that can be improved. He has all the ability and talent; he just needs to work on the I.Q. part of the game. And he can do that in the upcoming off-season and next year with an improved supporting cast.

2) Maybe this underachieving team can find its way and sneak up on some people starting Thursday. I don’t believe, with the path set ahead for the team (Ole Miss, LSU, and likely USC), that Kentucky HAS to win the tourney like everyone is so enamored with saying. A win over Ole Miss rectifies one previous loss, a win over LSU does the same along with announcing that the Cats can do something against a talented team, and a win over USC would say that Kentucky has overcome its biggest nemesis and is ready to take on some more. Very unlikely to occur…but this IS the optimism piece.

3) I never like to think that a transfer is a beneficial thing, but there’s just so much evidence to things happening behind the scenes… it just has to be a good thing to get some of the weeds out of the garden. Right? Let’s not go naming guys, but we all kind of have our secret wish list. And with increasing reports of Gillispie on the trail for a point guard addition, a transfer could be doubly beneficial.

4) The increasingly ridiculous audacity of the UK basketball “chosen” fan base has had to take quite a serving of humble pie. That can only be a good thing.

5) We may get to end a really long NIT appearance drought. I’m no statboy, but I believe the last appearance was with Sir Rupp. Please correct me.

6) UK FOOTBALL IS COMING SOON! And more and more people are looking forward to it. At least the Blue/White game April 25th should be well-attended. I’ll be there.

I rarely venture outside of our site here and aseaofblue.com as far as opinion-sources go for UK sports, mostly because of my particular taste in blending style and professionalism, but I make about a bi-weekly roundup of the ones I’m aware of just to check the goings-on. Today I caught a whiff of this:

Kentuckysportsradio.com cat fight

And while this is probably old news to most of you, I was appalled, no, amused, no, let’s go with confused when I stumbled upon the content of that link. I had to take a step back and look at the grand scheme of it all. Hopefully that’s what you’re doing right now. So, hopefully, you’ve got a feel for where I’m going with this.

How hilarious is it that the author of the little thing says that his (Maggard’s) ”cronies” would probably be there to defend themselves and - presto! Look who shows up to turn a man to a prophet. It’s pitiful, nearly painful to watch. But then I think, it’s not just him. Why was such a “bracket,” or whatever, needed to begin with? What end-purpose does it serve? Sounds to me like the “authors” have a bit of insecurity themselves. But beyond that there are hundreds (or millions depending on whom you poll) of joe’s there just piling up the page with attention-poop they’ve been storing up for days, weeks, and months. It’s like, you know how when you’ve gotta deuce it up real bad but you’re in a spot where it just wouldn’t be proper and you hold it in to the point where it goes right back up inside? Then it recycles through the system it once emerged from and re-festers itself? And when it finally has a chance to break loose it smells exponentially worse than your normal stench? Yeah. Well by the end of the day, you’ve got a pretty stinky soup of attention poop. Message boards are a lot similar, it’s just that it’s more a group of unorganized militia poopshooters as opposed to a segregated battlefield of, say, Generals, Majors, and Captain poopshooters to go along with the numerous infantry poopers and long-range crap-tossers. Every man wants to make a name for themselves in a world where masculinity runs supreme. The good thing about the sportstalk world is that no one is expected to be physically imposing, just intellectually.

There are simply too many people trying to be a source, or a leader, or what it really boils down to: a somebody. Attention-whores. I’ll admit it: I’d love for everyone to know my name and where to find my “voice.” But I’d prefer it be because I’m just a good writer, have an agreeable opinion, or a likable disposition rather than because I’m skilled at baiting people, lucky-guessing with rumors, designing my image, or using my position to start a self-serving agenda. I don’t like to point fingers, but there is a lot of that going on in this little battle of … stuff. Look, I’m here to write ABOUT UK sports and anything related to that theme. I’m not USING UK and its ridiculously massive fan following and history as a catapult to fame and glory. I’m not going to USE the school I love and respect to serve myself. And I WILL NOT support anyone who does. I write out of passion for the game (football and basketball), the league (NCAA), and most of all the school that represents most that is enjoyable in this state. That is where it ends. If you (Marc Maggard, Matt Jones, whoever else that has emerged to fit the profile, and all who are riding their coattails) fail to see what you are doing differently, then I pity you with force.

Don’t forget that if you lie, cheat, and steal to gain support; that support will lie, cheat, and steal to take your place when the time is right. If you use people enough, you will get exposed. If you throw enough people to the curb, you’ll form a mob too infuriated to control. Please, stop taking yourselves SO seriously, jump off your high horses, and respect the university that’s allowed you a brief stint of popularity. Players themselves are told so very often that “it’s not about you” and “it’s the name on the front of the jersey that matters.” Players! And here I am talking about YOU! Who are you? I digress. Now that I am drained of applicable cliches on the matter, I’m losing my will to be further offended. I believe you guys have something, maybe a lot, of substance to contribute to this business of reporting and following sports teams. But you’re letting your head get in the way or your ability. And in the process you’re degrading the school that you are attempting to represent.

The prevailing trend is that legitimate news sources are dying out, and are being replaced by a new breed of bloggers, web site hosts, and message board and youtube superstars. As this trend continues to intensify, such things as accuracy, cohesion, and professionalism is going by the wayside. These things are great for spreading opinion and excitement (I’m obviously into it myself), but it’s usefulness in the world of journalism remains raw. ANYONE can do the things we are doing. It takes real ability to write a daily column, run a beat, or dish out a grounbreaking feature story. I don’t think I’m ready to throw away my sports page and turn off my radio just yet. 

Now, I am yet a youngin’, but I do remember a time when all that mattered was if the Cats won or lost. It was a time when Cawood Ledford’s was the only voice that proved important and the opposing team represented our only enemy. We were the pinnacle, envied and admired. We tried to be like no one, and had no need to fluff our image because we were just better and that was to be understood. We called it the Glory Road and we governed its passage.

Today, wins and losses just seem like another lump of stats to be prodded and picked over. The voice of Tom Leach is clouded by a dense fog of opinion and babble. Our enemies have grown far beyond the basketball court or the football field. We are struggling to stay atop the very mountain we’ve built and have lost that air of respect we once breathed. We try so hard to fit in and therefore we do. The glory days are gone folks; flushed furiously down a nasty, wretched attention-toilet.

Kenny, Seth, and whomever chooses to read my words: if I ever take a turn toward this type of senseless, sightless, inferiority driven me-machine, please rise up and crack me upside the dome with no reserve whatsoever. Because that is precisely what I would deserve from Brooks, Barnhart, Gillispie, and every member of the UKAA fraternity and alumni. It’s about time that we, the SUPPORTING cast, do our part: support. How about we all take a moment to remove ourselves and begin the process of rebuilding that pinnacle?

Now I’ll shut up and listen.

With 2008 coming to a close, I’ve been forced to reflect on everything the year has brought. Which brings to me to the year in review for UK and it’s athletic squads.

And in my reflections, I had one reoccurring theme — disappointment.

Can me a fair weather fan. Call me a Louisville fan. Call me whatever you want. But as we walk down memory lane, think of the present, not the optimisic future that many UK teams possess. We’re talking about the past/present. Oh and, on a technical basis, UK’s Music City Bowl win over Florida State isn’t included. It was played on Dec. 31, 2007. Sorry.

Just think, despite a great conference run, the basketball team was bounced out of the NCAA tournament quickly and for the first time in a long time, no one was quite sure the Cats would even make the tournament. Patrick Patterson’s injury worries the Big Blue Nation.

After storming out to another quick and forceful start, the baseball team falls apart in conference play. They stumble in the SEC tournament and miss out on another regional. The program building coach jets for alma mater and SEC foe Mississippi State. Many top recruits sign pro contracts instead of coming to Lexington, but a good class is still landed.

Women’s basketball semi-salvages a piss-poor season with a deep NIT run fueled by the opporunity to host week in and week out. But with only a few recruits, two of which are transfers and must sit out, there isn’t much hope for the next season.

And the softball and tennis teams struggle as always.

When fall starts, the football team stumbles mightily at the end with a 2-6 record and zero wins of note. Injuries and woeful offense make fans uneasy. On the basketball front, it’s clear UK is a two-man show and VMI decides to add itself to the list of recent Cat killers.

And the marquee win? A decent West Virginia team. The key loss, a five-pointer to a ranked Miami team that is respectable. The ugly? North Carolina, without it’s best player, showing UK has much farther it has to go until it’s elite again.

Oh and the volleyball team chokes away a share of the SEC crown and once again exits quickly out of the NCAA tournament.

Look at all that. Disappointing. It’s safe to say I’m ready to see 2008 end, as UK athletics is a shell of what we all thought it to be.

That’s why Mitch Barnhart is correct in his plan to return UK to prominence in all sports, as soon as possible.

2009 will probably be a good start. A win over East Carolina on Jan. 2 is the perfect time to start.

For the first week of the season, all SEC teams in action play other SEC teams.  There are five games on tap including the Cats and Cocks.  How many jokes will we hear this week involving cocks?  Seroiusly, probably enough to start a drinking game. 

SOUTH CAROLINA @ KENTUCKY  12:30 pm  RAYCOM

Oh well, I guess everybody loves when USCjr comes to town because they can openly make jokes about cocks and no one cares.  I just hope this week that everyone is in a good mood after the game as well.  I look for the Cats to prove once again that they are superior on the defensive side.  USCjr’s offense hasn’t been much to talk about this year but like the Cats, they have relied heavily on their defense.  Remeber last year’s contest when a couple of turnovers cost the Cats the game.  If those same mistakes can be avoided, look for the Cats to finally send the Old Ball Coach home crying.  If it happens, Spurrier’s seat may become a little warm considering  he has yet to have a good season in Columbia.  PREDICTION: KENTUCKY 20, USCjr 6.

LSU @ FLORIDA  8:00  CBS
The Tigers go into “The Swamp” fresh off of a bye week while Florida basically had a bye week even though they did travel to Fayetteville for a scrimmage with the Hogs.  After their 38-7 win, they flew back home and began preparations for LSU.  If Tim Tebow keeps his word, it was probably one of the toughest practice weeks the Gaotrs have had yet.  I think after this showdown, there will be one less unbeaten team in the SEC.  PREDICTION: FLORIDA 24, LSU 21

TENNESSEE @ GEORGIA  3:30  CBS

The first half of the SEC doubleheader on CBS takes us to Athens where the Dawgs host the Vols.  As much as it will kill Billy Bob and Bertha, Fat Phil will still be leading the Vols out of the locker room for yet another week.  I think that if the Vols don’t perform well and keep it close, someone may be out of a job next week, and I’m not talking about any coordinators.  Two blowout losses to SEC East opponents would not be taken well in Knoxville.  I just hope that if they do get rid of Fulmer this year, it is done before the end of the year instead of at the end of the season because teams tend to play differently for their coach when they know it’s his last game.  Yeah, we get them in their last game of the year.  Here’s to hoping Georgia can get it done this week.  PREDICTION: GEORGIA 35, TENNESSEE 13

VANDERBILT @ MISSISSIPPI STATE  1:30

After their victory over Auburn, Vandy travels to Starkville to take on the mighty cowbell backed Bulldogs.  Vandy looks to get to 6-0 for the first time in 80 years and extend their SEC winning streak to the longest in school history (3?).  It’s unknown which quarterback the Dores will use.  Starter Chris Nickson injured his shoulder last week and his status for this week is unknown.  If needed, MacKenzie Adams is more than qualified to step in and lead the team to victory.  Mississippi St has lost three in a row and looks to spoil Vandy’s cinderella season.  PREDICTION: VANDERBILT 21, MISSISSIPPI STATE 14

ARKANSAS @ AUBURN  3:00

A week before coming to Lexington, Arkansas travels to Auburn to battle with the Tigers.  Arkansas got blown out by Florida at home last week and Auburn lost to Vanderbilt for the first time ending a 13-game winning streak against the Dores.  Auburn fired it’s offensive coordinator earlier this week and really have no identity on offense.  Although I don’t think Arkansas will win, I think it will be a close game because of Auburn’s lack of offense.  PREDICTION: AUBURN 10, ARKANSAS 6

Alabama and Ole MIss have the week off.  Bama is still #2 in the national rankings after their win over the Cats last weekend while Ole Miss is regrouping after the letdown they suffered against South Carolina last week.

With Kentucky visiting Alabama this weekend, it seems like everyone has focused solely on this game.  As much as we really don’t care, there are others games this weekend in the SEC, including a matchup of ranked teams in NASHVILLE, where Gameday will also be airing live.  Wow, never thought i would say that.

AUBURN @ VANDERBILT  6 pm  ESPN

Holy crap, a game between ranked teams in Nashville, Tennessee involving the Commodores.  Who would have ever thunk it.  Ranked for the first time in forever, # 19 Vandy hosts #13 Auburn on Saturday night.  Vanderbilt has had a week to prepare for the Tigers so I look for them to come out ready for everything.  Auburn fought hard last week and held off Tennessee 14-12 in Auburn but should be ready for the Dores due to their ranking.  Any other year, we might expect the Tigers to overlook Vandy but this year, no one will overlook the Dores.  A win on Saturday night for Vanderbilt would put them at 5-0 for the first time since 1943.  I don’t look for that to happen though.  The ranking ends here!  PREDICTION: AUBURN 24, VANDERBILT 21

FLORIDA @ ARKANSAS 12:30 pm  RAYCOM

After getting knocked off in the swamp at the hands of Ole Miss, the Gators travel to Fayetteville to rebound against the Hogs.  Florida looks to extend their win streak against Arkansas to seven games and take a 7-1 lead in the all-time record against the Hogs.  Arkansas is looking for any signs of offense from their team.  I think it’s funny to watch a Bobby Petrino team struggle to score considering the entire time he was in Louisville the players could probably score in their sleep.  It’s gonna be another week of no offense for the Hogs I’m afraid.  The Gators should bounce back nicely in this one.  PREDICTION:  FLORIDA 35, ARKANSAS 10.

SOUTH CAROLINA @ OLE MISS  2pm

The Cocks travel to Oxford to face the Rebels who are fresh off their upset in the swamp.  Both teams come into the game with matching 3-2 records but Ole Miss is 1-1 in SEC play while USC is 0-2.  Both have losses to Vanderbilt by nearly the same score 23-17 for one and 23-17 for the other.  I think this may be a good game but only because both teams are very mediocre at best.  I look for a bit of a letdown on the Rebels side after their big win last week but I’m not sure whether USC can capitalize on it or not.  PREDICTION: OLE MISS 17, SOUTH CAROLINA 14

NORTHERN ILLINOIS @ TENNESSEE  7 pm  PPV

FINALLY, a cupcake for the Vols to munch on.  After a disastrous start to the season, the Vols finally have an easy opponent to play.  This just shows how dumb the people of Knoxville are.  Most major college programs schedule these games as the first couple of the season to allow their teams to work out the kinks while racking up wins for their records.  In Knoxville, they would rather be embarrassed early and then have to defend themselves as a good team the rest of the year.  If this game is in doubt going into the second half,  Fat Phil may not make it out of the locker room for the rest of the game.  Good Luck Phil!  PREDICTION: TENNESSEE 34, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 7

Georgia, LSU and Mississippi State are off this week.

Boy I haven’t really ranted in a long time. But thanks to ESPN.com’s Bruce Feldman, you will be treated to one this morning. Why? Because Feldman is a busch league college football columnist. Feldman and Mark Schlabach released their pre-season bowl projections. A silly thing, I’m sure they’ll tell you, but it’s gets idiots like me to post about it, so I guess they win.

Anyway, the SEC has NINE bowl tie-ins and Feldman has UK listed for ZERO of them. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. And Feldman’s mistakes start at the top. His BCS championship game? Southern Cal. Versus Missouri. You had at me at hell no.

The sad thing is I like Missouri and Chase Daniel. But those boys won’t even win the Big 12. Feldman has Auburn in the Feista Bowl (vs. Pittsburgh) and Florida in the Sugar (vs. BYU, or Hawai’i redux). He has Ole Miss making the Liberty bowl. I’m OK with that. It’s possible. And forget about the Music City bowl, who broke an unwritten rule about taking a team in consecutive years already. But surely the PapaJohns.com or Independence bowls Bruce. Nope.

Arkansas likes the pizza bowl, Croom like independence. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Luckily, Schlabach slides UK into the Independence bowl against Oklahahoma State. I’m down with that. Not really, but it’s a third straight bowl.

I don’t know what ESPN did why Ivan Massel, who is much better at this bowl projections than Feldman. And that’s saying something. Feldman = busch league projections. Maybe you were going to the shake ups, the reaches. You win then Bruce.

But I think you actually believe Missouri will make the NC, BYU will crash the Sugar and Clemson can win the ACC. And I think you don’t watch college football.

I was going to wait a little bit before getting all worked up about UK’s chances to go bowling for a third straight year in football, but ESPN has left me no choice.

You see, College Football writer Mark Schlabach has released July bowl predictions to help keep people like me sane. And he has the Wildcats going to Mobile to take place in the newest SEC bowl (but not a new bowl altogether) the Papajohns.com bowl.

The good news: UK will be in a third straight bowl game. They would face a Big East opponent (Mark says Rutgers).

Bad news: The bowl is named after a website.

Now, the addition of the bowl gives the SEC nine tie-ins. I’m not quite sure if this is the ninth spot, but I doubt it since the Liberty Bowl projection has Ole Miss and the Independence Bowl has Mississippi State. I’m thinking this Papa John’s bowl jumped to the 7th best team in the conference. Or so I hope.

Of course, little brother Louisville is back bowling too in the International Bowl. Big East vs. MAC. The bowl may be closer in date to the BCS bowls, but you’d be playing in Canada. Not an upgrade.

Also, I went back and looked, this is the same match-up Phil Steele predicts. A bowl is a bowl right? Only if there’s free pizza!

Another day, another pre-season football magazine saying UK just can’t compete above fifth in the SEC. Sure, Phil Steele has given UK more credit than the other two magazines we’ve reviewed so far, but still.

You can put more UK guys on your All-SEC teams. You can say this will be better or that will be better. Mr. Steele works really hard on his magazine, hell, he writes every page himself and they are crammed with information.

But Phil, where is the courage? UK finished 3rd and Fourth the past two years in the SEC East. Back to back bowls, buddy. Although you do have UK bowl bound again (as the SEC’s 8th best team no less), fifth in the SEC?

Of course you think Tennessee will be par for the course and South Carolina is one of your sleeper teams. Then again, so is Louisville, who you rank 50th in the nation. You bury UK in the 60s.

You claim on your magazine that you have been the most accurate the past NINE years. Yet you have missed the mark consistently on UK these past two years. Can’t you see the mistakes?

The fact is that the Cats just won’t get any love this year until they punk out Louisville in the opener and head into Bama undefeated. Even then, they won’t get much love.

I’m thinking about applying to write for a national college football magazine. Looks like an easy job. Just go with what everyone else says, follow the trend and don’t take risks. Even though everyone knows the craziest stuff happens in college football.

But why in the world would a pre-season magazine actually want to be bold? I haven’t a clue.

Texas vs. Arkansas in 1969… could we soon see that match up every year?

I have to admit, when I first came across this, I thought it was going to be a bunch of a bull. I mean, is the next step for college football really 16 team superconferences?

Tim Stephens of the Orlando Sentinel seems to think it could be. I’m still a little wary, until I read his new conference alignments. And the SEC went from beast to SUPER BEAST. Check this out.

SEC East: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, South Carolina

SEC West: Arkansas, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M.

In case you’re wondering about the West, in this situation, Stephens says that the Big 12 and Big East will fold and their teams will be raced to be grabbed by the other leagues. And it looks like the “SEC-16″ went nuts. Alabama and Auburn switch over to an already tough division in the SEC East. Oklahoma, Oklahoma State (I’m a man….ok, I’ll stop), Texas and Texas A&M jump to the SEC West.

And I can honestly say that at that point, a playoff must occur. Take a look at those divisions again. There is no way any team gets out of either division undefeated. The East division is a monster, the West division is the boogeyman.

The best part of this whole idea may be what happened to little brother, Louisville. After thinking they are some big football power, none of the four power conferences (ACC-16, SEC-16, BIG 16 or PAC 16) take the Cardinals. Instead, they are relegated back to a 16 team Conference USA, a clear second-tier conference. The Mountain West also grabs 16 teams to fight the C-USA for the best of the rest title.

If this situation happened, I would be absolutely giddy. The SEC would be nuts, with a must-see game every week (like it’s not that way already). The SEC would get the best four from the Big 12. The ACC would live up to their name, completely blanketing the East Coast. the Pac 10 would be the the West Coast ACC and the Big 10 would continue to suck. Haha, just kidding. But not really.

When I think about it, this could have already happened a few years ago. Thankfully, the ACC decided to raid the Big East, not merge. But all it’s going to take is a power move by any of the remaining conferences to spark the flame. If the Big East or Pac 10 tries to raid some teams that aren’t in lower conferences things will get dicey.

And think about the rivalries. Alabama-Auburn comes to the SEC East, while all the old east feuds stay. Georgia and Auburn get each other every year. In the West, everything stays the same, but you add the Red River Shootout… and Arkansas gets a shot at Texas and Oklahoma every year. Same for LSU.

And I haven’t even talked about the other sports yet. Yikes.

And honestly, I think college football and the fans would be better off if these 16 team conferences ever do come along. Texas, Oklahoma, OK State and Texas A&M in a new SEC? I’m going to faint!

This is the second leg of a series where we here at WC break down what each preseason college football magazine says about UK football for the 2008 season.