September 11th: On this date...

... in 2009, remember those who are close to you and the ones you love. We do not negotiate with terrorists. We will never forget.

September 10th: On this date...

...in 2005, Rafael Little ran for a career high 102 yards, including a key fourth quarter 99 yard kickoff return for a touchdown to help the Cats squeak by tiny Division I-AA Idaho State 41-29. Kentucky needed four second half touchdowns and two fourth quarter interceptions to guarantee victory. (I’m guessing this was around the time everyone was wanting PaPaw to hand in his walking papers). Little’s kickoff return TD was the first since Derek Abney in 2002 and the fourth longest return in program history. The Idaho State Bengals led 16-14 at halfime and 29-28 with only 5:06 left in the game. But for 2005 Kentucky? A win is a win is a win is a win. And that’s all that mattered.

Big Booyah on Tom Leach

September 9th: On this date...

...in 2002, Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen was named SEC Player of the Week after his performance in the 77-17 drubbing of UTEP. The Pillsbury Throwboy threw for an astonishingly low 211 yards on 10-17 passes. Five touchdowns were also on the stat sheet for the hefty one. He led the Wildcats on touchdown drives on six of their first eight possessions, efficiently directing them to a near record-setting point total. It actually ended up being the second highest total in program history. The victory led Big Blue Nation to gobble up 2,500 tickets the following Monday, 1,500 more to their upcoming Commonwealth Stadium tilt vs. Indiana.

September 8th: On this date...

... in 1987, a rivalry was put on hold when the University of Louisville cheerleaders performed a very selfless act in raising $15,000 for a fallen member. Kentucky cheerleader Dale Baldwin was paralyzed from the neck down after breaking his neck on a trampoline stunt. The money was raised for a specially equipped van for Baldwin’s transportation. They convinced a Louisville store, Kustom Koncepts, to help with $18,000 more worth of equipment for the van. After the incident, UK Athletic Director Cliff Hagan outlawed any stunt using trampolines. Baldwin went on to graduate from Kentucky in 1990. In 2005, a brand new dorm was named in his honor.

September 7th: On this date...

... in 2007, Mason County star Darius Miller gives a verbal commitment to the University of Kentucky. This was a huge get for new coach Billy Gillispie, as Big Blue Nation remembers the most recent Mason County star who chose not to go to Kentucky, Tennessee’s Chris Lofton. The fact Gillispie was able to keep Miller in Lexington let everyone know some in-state talent would choose Blue if given the opportunity. Miller had an up-and-down freshman campaign under Gillispie. A campaign that many Wildcat faithful thought he was being held back. Not anymore. Fresh off a gold medal, Darius Miller will be a key cog in the 2010 Wildcat NCAA Tournament run.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

September 6th: On this date...

... in 2003, Hefty-Lefty Jared Lorenzen became the University’s all-time passing yards leader in a 37-6 beating of Murray State. J-Load completed 14-21 passes for 197 yards and 4 touchdowns. The 197 yards gave him 8,566 career passing yards, breaking Tim Couch’s mark of 8,435. Couch completed his in three years compared to Lorenzen’s four, but records are records nonetheless. Lorenzen was one of the most likable and gigantic football players in my lifetime.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

also

... in 1990, the man, the myth, the legend, John Wall was born. Just think, less than 60 days until Kentucky fans start complaining about John Wall carrying the ball!

September 5th: On this date...

On this date...in 2001, the Voice of the Wildcats, Cawood Ledford, passed away at the age of 75 after a battle with cancer. Ledford was the University of Kentucky’s play-by-play man from 1953-1992. Before, and even after TV, Ledford was the eyes and ears of Big Blue Nation painting some of the most glorious pictures for our beloved team. A native of Harlan, Ledford attended Centre College in Danville. He was inducted to the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1994. He won three Eclipse Awards for his coverage of thoroughbred racing and voted Kentucky Sportscaster of the Year a record 22 times. In 2001, the University of Kentucky named its basketball court at Rupp Arena “Cawood’s Court” in Ledford’s honor. Arguably the most recognizable face for the most storied college basketball programs in history.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Week 1: Cats Bomb Hawks 42-0

The first quarter and a half wasn't the prettiest, but our Boys made up for more than enough in the last two and a half to give the Queen City a Big Blue win.

Trevard could be leading the nation in INTs and TDs if he could've caught some bunnies, but one for a Pick Six will get the confidence rolling.

The Wildcat was a success with Cobb and Locke. Let's do it some more.

Chris Matthews got on the board with a jump ball. Hopefully this gets the ball rolling for the Dirty Cards in a few weeks.

I still have a 5-7 record for our Big Blue. I'd love to be proved wrong.

Key stats:

Passing

Mike Hartline 18-27 - 222 yds - 2 TDs

Rushing

Derrick Locke: 9-61yds - 1 TD

Moncell Allen: 8-57yds - 1 TD

Coshik Williams: 10-39yds

Alfonso Smith: 7-36yds

Donald Russell: 7-30yds

Randall Cobb: 1-11yds - 1 TD

Receiving

Randall Cobb: 7-96yds - 1 TD

Chris Matthews: 4-61yds - 1 TD

Total Yards: 488 yards

Rushing Yards: 245 yards

Passing Yards: 243 yards

Conclusion:

Umm, balanced attack, no?

Week 1 Preview: Miami (OH)

Analysis: They look pretty good, but I think I we can take 'em.

Vegas says Kentucky (-15)

Kentucky 31

Miami (OH) 17

Go Cats.

Who Dey?

Well tomorrow is going to be the day I have been waiting on for 9 months. No, it is not the birth of a child. It is officially the start of the 2009-2010 college football season. I my self am making the trek up to Cincy to enter the house of Chad Johnson, I mean Ochocinco, and watch the Wildcats being the season with a bang. I am not so sure it is going to be the result that many are saying. I do think the Cats will win, but I am not so sure it will be a blowout. Let's be honest. Our offense was not the best last year. We have read all summer that it is vastly improved, and I do believe that, but it is game 1 so the jury is still out. Miami (Ohio) also brings some unknowns to the table. With something like 5 new coaches who have never coached together heading the team it is hard to plan for the game if you are UK. That being said, the overall talent will take over after halftime and I see the Cats winning about 27-10. Your thoughts?

September 4th: On this date...

... in 2008, an historical marker was dedicated commemorating Stoll Field, where the first football game was played in the southern United States nearly 130 years ago. Stoll Field/McLean Stadium played host to Kentucky Wildcat football until the 1972, when the team moved into Commonwealth Stadium. The stadium was the home of the Wildcats during the Bear Bryant era, which included their first bowl game and first SEC Championship. Bryant later refused to schedule Kentucky at the run down stadium and is one of the reasons Alabama and Kentucky did not play for 25 years. The last game was a 14-13 win over Vanderbilt on November 11, 1972. The UK marching band still practices there today, with the Singletary Center for the Arts in the opposite end zone.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Hooray! Football is Back!

You know that new handshake deal the NCAA is trying to pull off at the beginning of games this year? Well, so far its working like a charm!

Photo from our Ashland Bureau

After signing a few copies, Coach Cal turned around, kissed the baby (Roman), then held him up for the crowd to celebrate. At the end of the book signing, Cal had a trash bag full of $100s making it rain on the crowd as he walked out. What a coach!

Path To World Domination

The Path takes us to Flushing Meadows, NY, today as former Kentucky All-American Jesse Witten advanced to the third round of the 2009 U.S. Open this afternoon in front of a raucous Big Blue crowd. The ESPN coverage was going in and out on the Witten match all day, as he pulled the biggest upset in round one.

Big Blue Nation was all over the TV screen when ESPN gave us the conclusion of his match. Jesse brought a huge contingent of Wildcat faithful, pulling him back from a one set deficit to win in four.

This must mean we will win a National Championship in every sport this year.

5 things you didn't know about Jesse Witten

Go Cats.

September 3rd: On this date...

... in 2008, the University of Kentucky announced it would be holding Big Blue Madness a week earlier (October 10th) than everyone else, giving the Kentucky brand the college basketball stage to itself. This decision allowed more recruits to come to Lexington and still keep their other visits in line. Those recruits would have to cherry pick which school’s they would visit the following week. The UK Athletic Department found a loophole that allowed two hours of practice per week after September 15th. The NCAA rule book prohibited practice before October 17th. So, in essence, the NCAA won’t allow you to practice before October 17th, but they will allow you to two-hours of practice per week after September 15th. I don’t understand it either.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

The Newbies - It's Picture Day!

Tell me this doesn't get you hype for the upcoming basketball season, not to mention make you realize just how old you are. It seems like the shorts are a tad shorter (not much) and I'm positive the tops are painted on. Either way, you can check out the full Cats' Pause Gallery below.

Darnell Dodson is Ramel Bradley reincarnated. Eric Bledsoe could start at linebacker right now. DeMarcus Cousins smiling. Pat is ripped. Harrellson is white. Perry went without his Bill Cosby pudding pop face.

Cats Pause

Herald-Leader

Go Cats.

Chomping at the Bit

Well-Well-Well, what do we have here? I can only guess a reporter wanting to do his job and get to the bottom of this whole penis-floor-restaurant-crazy eyes incident give Ricky P a fluff piece for the city of Louisville. You had to know it wouldn't take long, as this is the perfect opportunity for a sellout reporter to get on the inside and be Pitino's direct line to the airwaves.

Fred Cowgill of WLKY phoned in the objectivity of his journalism career today as he gave Mr. Pitino everything he wanted: to make sure everyone knows he's a family man who loves adversity!

Deadspin

September 2nd: On this date...

... in 2008, following a dominant performance against rival Louisville, Kentucky defensive tackle Myron Pryor was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week. Pryor, a Louisville native, played a role in two defensive touchdowns. He forced a fumble in the second quarter that Ashton Cobb picked up and ran 28 yards for a touchdown. The second came when the big man scooped up a fumble forced by linebacker Johnny Williams. Myron “310 lbs. Of Glory” Pryor raced 72 yards the other way for the games final touchdown. Final score: UK 27 - UL 2. It was the first time in 16 years a Wildcat had been named SEC Defensive Player of the Week. Dean Wells was the last. Jeremy Jarmon had been named SEC Lineman of the Week, but not overall Defensive Player of the Week.

Must've Been the Goggles

In today's sad news department, former Kentucky star Ed Davender was arrested in a ticket selling scam by the Lexington Police. He is charged with three counts of theft by deception. not to mention trafficking a controlled substance within 1000 yards of a school, uh-oh.

The product? How about 2009-10 Kentucky basketball tickets!

You've got to give him props for at least backing a hot product. I'm sure the money he was making on these was fairly decent.

Ladies and Gents. The number nine scorer in the history of Kentucky basketball!

September 1st: On this date...

... in 2002, your University of Kentucky Wildcats put the clamps down on the prolific Louisville offense allowing only 248 total yards in the 22-17 upset of the #17 ranked Cardinals. This snapped a three-game losing streak to the Cards and was a giant step forward for the Wildcat defense, as they were ranked 109th nationally the previous year. Jeremy Caudill’s violent sack on Dave Ragone late in the fourth quarter helped key the win for the Cats. Ragone lay motionless on the ground as Caudill stood overtop punching the air like a boxer. On the next play, Mike Williams intercepted Ragone to seal the deal. Kentucky RB had 123 total yards to help key the offense.