Obviously, a comfortable win with no injuries. But, further than that...

1. Control/dominate the LOS on both sides
2. Getting in and out of the huddle and snapping the ball before we're in low single digits on the play clock
3. BV going through his reads on a few plays and hitting the 2nd or 3rd option
4. Consistent pass rush
5. Much tighter coverage from the DBs - no more 10 yard cushions
6. No dumb penalties - illegal motion, hitting a guy out of bounds, holding 15 yards off the ball, jumping the snap when it's 3rd and short, etc.
7. A comfortable enough lead that both Wimsatt and Allen get to play and actually run plays from the playbook vs straight handoffs and/or taking a knee. Let the 2nd and 3rd team guys run the offense!
8. Much better control of the middle 8 - no just-before-half scores by the opponent and prevent a long scoring drive coming out of halftime

Embiid was stinking up the joint and he finally brought Davis in. Davis proving he needs more playing time.

Nice










I don’t know if that’s true btw

KENTUCKY FOOTBALL POSTGAME NOTES
KENTUCKY VS. SOUTHERN MISS
KROGER FIELD – LEXINGTON, KY.
AUG. 31, 2024

FINAL SCORE: Kentucky 31, Southern Miss 0

Note: Originally scheduled for a 7:55 p.m. ET kickoff, the game was delayed by lightning and began at 10:05 p.m. The game was stopped by a lightning delay at 11:51 p.m. before being called final at 12:25 p.m. The game ended with 9:56 remaining in the third quarter.

Team Records and Series Information

• It was the season opener for both teams, as Kentucky football began its 134th season.
  • The Wildcats are now 91-37-5 in all-time season openers, including 8-3 under Mark Stoops.
  • The Wildcats have won seven of the last eight openers.
  • The Wildcats have won the last five games that they have opened the season at home, the most since the Cats opened at home and won them all from 1987-1994.
  • The three previous notes do not include the vacated win in the 2021 opener.
• Kentucky leads the all-time series with Southern Miss, 4-1, including 3-1 in Lexington.

Next Game

• Kentucky continues its four-game homestand Saturday, Sept. 7 by playing host to South Carolina, which will mark both teams’ Southeastern Conference openers.
  • The game time is 3:30 p.m. ET and it will be televised on ABC.
  • SEC Nation will be on campus, broadcasting live from the Orange Lot. The Paul Finebaum Show will be on Friday 3-7 p.m. On Saturday, Marty & McGee will be from 9-10 a.m. and SEC Nation goes from 10 a.m. to noon.
    • Fans are invited to attend all shows.

Team Notes

• The Wildcats have won their last 17 straight regular-season nonconference games.
  • UK has won 15 straight nonconference games at Kroger Field.
• UK has outscored its opponents by at least 24 points in the season opener for four straight seasons, the first time that has been accomplished since 1948-51.
• Tonight’s game marked the fourth straight season opener scoring at least 31 points, second time in school history (also 1914-17).
• It was Kentucky’s first shutout in a season opener since 2009, a 42-0 win over Miami (Ohio) in a game played in Cincinnati.
• Kentucky’s last home shutout in a season opener was 1993, 35-0 over Kent State.
• Kentucky’s last two shutouts have been by the same score, 31-0, also vs. Youngstown State in 2022.
• Kentucky notched interceptions by Jamon Dumas-Johnson and JQ Hardaway on the first two defensive possessions of the game.
• The abbreviated game allowed six possessions by Southern Miss. UK limited the visitors to 131 yards total offense (only five rushing yards) and seven first downs.
  • The five rushing yards is the fewest since 2019 when UT Martin had minus-12 rushing yards.
  • The 131 total offensive yards is fewest since allowing 87 yards vs. ULM in 2021.
  • Kentucky has held nine of its last 15 opponents to less than 100 yards rushing, a stretch dating back to the final game of 2022.

Coach Mark Stoops

• Mark Stoops began his 12th season as Kentucky’s head coach, extending his school record for the most seasons as the UK head coach.
• Stoops extended his school records for most total victories (64) and home victories (45).
• This was UK’s second shutout under Stoops, also 31-0 vs. Youngstown State in 2022.

Player Notes

• Making his first collegiate start, QB Brock Vandagriff completed 12-of-18 passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns, all of which marked career highs.
  • His 34 yards rushing in the first quarter already eclipsed his career high, which was 27 yards against Kentucky in 2023. He finished the game with 35 yards rushing.
    • Of his four rushes in the first quarter, three were first downs.
• WR Barion Brown caught a game-high four passes for 28 yards and a career-high-tying two touchdowns.
  • He now has 97 career receptions for 1,195 yards and 10 TDs.
  • He has caught at least one pass in all 27 games of his collegiate career.
  • He has scored a touchdown in all three of his season openers. The last Wildcat to score a touchdown in three straight season openers was Marc Logan in 1984-86.
• WR Ja’Mori Maclin caught two passes for a game-high 66 yards.
  • He has 1,455 receiving yards in his career. He needs 545 to reach 2,000 for his collegiate career.
• RB Demie Sumo-Karngbaye recorded a game-high eight rushes for a game-high 59 yards and a touchdown.
  • It marked his second career touchdown rushing at Kentucky and his fifth overall.
• DB JQ Hardaway recorded his first career interception for a touchback on the third play in the second quarter.
  • He added two tackles.
• LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson recorded his second career interception with a pickoff on the first defensive series, setting up UK’s first touchdown.
  • He added two tackles.
• DB Zion Childress led Kentucky with four total tackles and four solo tackles, including a tackle for loss (-2 yards).
• LB J.J. Weaver had three tackles and one sack / tackle for loss (-7 yards).
  • He now has 17.5 career sacks and needs a half-sack to reach the top five in school history.
  • He now has 33.0 TFL and needs four more to reach the top three in school history.
• K Alex Raynor extended his streak to four straight field goals - a stretch that began last season against Tennessee at Kroger Field on Oct. 28, 2023 – after 41-yarder in the second quarter.
  • He is 4-of-4 between 40- and 49-yard field goals in his career at Kentucky.
  • He added 4-of-4 extra points.

First Starts

• First collegiate starts at any school: OG Jalen Farmer, RB Demie Sumo-Karngbaye, QB Brock Vandagriff
• Transfers who had started at other schools but making their first start at UK: LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, WR, Ja’Mori Maclin, OT Gerald Mincey

Game Captains

• DL Deone Walker, WR Dane Key, SS Zion Childress, C Eli Cox

WCS has always been one of my favorite Cats. It broke my heart to read this story, but also made me feel really glad he's still here with us.

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Anything you are excited to see from the slate leading up the game? Any thoughts on other SEC teams games? Do you think the line will be able to hold a pocket this year? If so Brock has a shot. I wish his Dad would give us some scoop on his thoughts. lol

about UK's chances at flipping UC WR/TE commit Mikkel Skinner and also getting OL Jayden Clark.

Just an update with most of the class wrapped up already. Those are the two most in focus right now in my view.

That BVG actually rested like a baby last night and that Big Dione is wonderfully hydrated. I hope Bush’s voice is devoid of larengitis and that Big Dog’s groan man spelling is on point and also that Stoops doesn’t have to have a red headed rocket launch. Hopefully we get the W and play great in doing so. Anything else?

I hope this heat doesn't have any ill effects on them.

A friend got to see the Cats work out recently. He said I could share a few of his observations with you guys. Take it all with a grain of salt. It's practice. It's August. Some guys are dinged up or coming off injuries... But still good to have some notes on how things are going.

*****

* Brea still not full-go and neither is Butler. Missing Butler makes a big difference. You can see where he'd change a lot of things.

* Shooting was as-advertised. They can fill it up. Everyone can torch it.

* Kerr played super hard and was very vocal.

* Oweh can really guard. Shot will be key for him.

* Perry was the best freshman by a decent gap.

* Amari Williams is gonna be rock solid. Huge fan. Garrison is behind. Did make a nice lefty hook.

* Didn't recall much of Robinson. Just kinda floated in this practice.

* Carr has some stuff to him but he looks very stiff. Should be a 5, but if you play your best 5 guys he probably has to be the 4.

* Almonor did not show much today.

* Watching Pope coach was very cool. He was very positive and very intentional. No yelling or cussing from any assistant. Assistant did 75% of the talking. Pope 25%. Pope really commanded the room. When he spoke he got all attention. That was pretty cool, it’s not that way everywhere. Goes to the age (maturity) of the guys on the talent roster.

* They only went halfcourt live, 4v4 shells. Nothing full. They have two long practices and one short one each week. Going 3 days next week, then 2 week break. Everyone going home.

* If you turned it over it was 2 sprints automatic, which I loved.

* There was a great great vibe amongst everyone. No bad body language. Everyone seemed happy to be there.