Crowd booing at end of half

[RV2]

An important point about the end of the half possession is the Cats didn't just run three plays and out. They closed out the half just like they have closed out two of their three wins. Controlling the ball and exerting their will on the opponent. That can't be discounted both in confidence and a blow to the opposing team's defensive psyche.

 

[BBBLazing]

I was not there booing. I will say I was disappointed. As to my football knowledge, I've never coached a football game, but I've been watching UK football for a long time. In my opinion, not having the confidence to attempt a 2 minute offense in that situation, tells me that the coaches know that we are not where we need to be. For everyone that blasts me and others for being pessimistic sometimes about the program and not having enough confidence, realize that your coaches don't have it either. Our 2 minute drill against Florida failed miserably. An attempt here would have given our offense experience, and if it fails, punt and defend. If you are worried about a pick six or them returning a punt, you have no confidence.

 

[UKfan215]

The booing was a total dick move. It embarrasses me that we have so many idiots among our fan base. There was suppose to be a big-time recruit at the game last night. I can't imagine the booing left a very positive impression on him. And what about our coach? Here's this guy that has come in here and busted his ass for this program since day one. He's taken recruiting to a level most UK fans never imagined was even possible. That recruiting success is now translating to success on the field. We're sitting here at 3-1 with two wins against SEC teams, including one ranked in the top 25. We should be grateful that we have someone like Coach Stoops guiding our program. We'll be damn lucky if we can keep him here. When some of the bigger schools eventually come calling, I'd rather he not have such examples of behavior from the fan base to remember when contemplating whether he should stay or go. Considering all he has done for this program, I think we as fans should show just a bit more loyalty and class toward our coach than we did last night at the end of the 1st half.

 

[BigBluePhantom]

I was not there booing. I will say I was disappointed. As to my football knowledge, I've never coached a football game, but I've been watching UK football for a long time. In my opinion, not having the confidence to attempt a 2 minute offense in that situation, tells me that the coaches know that we are not where we need to be. For everyone that blasts me and others for being pessimistic sometimes about the program and not having enough confidence, realize that your coaches don't have it either. Our 2 minute drill against Florida failed miserably. An attempt here would have given our offense experience, and if it fails, punt and defend. If you are worried about a pick six or them returning a punt, you have no confidence.

I will try not to blast you but I do think you are armchair coaching the team you want us to be and not the team that we currently have. What I mean is that you have decide is there a better chance of us scoring or a better chance that we set them up for the go ahead score. Forcing the ball down field is the most likely situation for an interception. Even if its not a pick 6, they probably get it in good field position and get at least a FG and a huge momentum boost going into the locker room. The other thing that could happen is that you have a couple of dropped passes and have to punt. They very likely get it back with decent field position in this scenario as well. The team we have to work with managed only one score in 29 minutes. It is a fairytale to think that it is at all likely they are going to score again in just 1 minute from our own 30 yard line.

It is not a matter of having confidence in the team. You are asking the coaches to have confidence that what statistically should happen in that situation will not happen and we will beat the odds. All this with an offense that has been underperforming. You only bet on the long shot when the odds are not in your favor. We had actually moved the ball better than our opponent. We were the home team and we got the ball first in the third quarter. We were headed to halftime in a pretty good position. Coach Stoops knew that we had much more to lose than to gain by rolling the dice.

 

[ekywildcat]

With two time outs, I'd like to have saw us take some shots down the field, just to show some aggressiveness if nothing else. But, if there was that much of a wind, Stoops made the right decision I guess.

 

[BBBLazing]

I will try not to blast you but I do think you are armchair coaching the team you want us to be and not the team that we currently have. What I mean is that you have decide is there a better chance of us scoring or a better chance that we set them up for the go ahead score. Forcing the ball down field is the most likely situation for an interception. Even if its not a pick 6, they probably get it in good field position and get at least a FG and a huge momentum boost going into the locker room. The other thing that could happen is that you have a couple of dropped passes and have to punt. They very likely get it back with decent field position in this scenario as well. The team we have to work with managed only one score in 29 minutes. It is a fairytale to think that it is at all likely they are going to score again in just 1 minute from our own 30 yard line.

It is not a matter of having confidence in the team. You are asking the coaches to have confidence that what statistically should happen in that situation will not happen and we will beat the odds. All this with an offense that has been underperforming. You only bet on the long shot when the odds are not in your favor. We had actually moved the ball better than our opponent. We were the home team and we got the ball first in the third quarter. We were headed to halftime in a pretty good position. Coach Stoops knew that we had much more to lose than to gain by rolling the dice.

Very contradictory post. The team we were playing had only scored once too. We were on the 30, right? We can't keep them out of FG position with limited time if we have to punt? Again, no confidence and a playing not to lose attitude. "Probably get in good field position and get at least a FG"? Really? Again, no confidence in offense or defense.

 

[sgt4269]

Not running your two minute drill with two and a half minutes and two time outs. Was playing not to lose.
Not using it as an opportunity to go up at least by three (which may have been the difference in winning or losing) and playing to win.

 

[TotesMcGotes]

after watching the replay i think it was a safe move. I was pissed watching it live, but now it seems more rational. of course i now know the outcome of the game. if we had lost by 1,2, or 3 points i would have looked at that drive and said "gee, a field goal before the half would have been nice"

 

[BBBLazing]

Not running your two minute drill with two and a half minutes and two time outs. Was playing not to lose.
Not using it as an opportunity to go up at least by three (which may have been the difference in winning or losing) and playing to win.

Exactly. If we couldn't get a field goal from where we were, why could they get one if we punted, say 40 yards, and put them on their 30 with alot less time than we had? Because we were scared? Playing not to lose.

 

[buckkiller]

This and the fact we still had 2 TOs in our pocket, we could have at least tried to get in FG range and go in at half up 3 instead of tied up.

This^^^^^ I was furious! Stay aggressive! !

 

[Dreklie]

On this issue...yes. People who know football would agree with Coach Stoops (and me.)

K coach, mind giving me a few more tips?

 

[KyCatFan]

We won the game so it is easy for people to say it was the right call, but as someone else mentioned, how would people have felt if we came out and sucked it up for the whole second half and they beat us by 3 or 7 points? Would it have been the right call then? The two previous possessions we went 90 yards and a touchdown and 56 yards and punted from the Missouri 40. So we were starting to move the ball pretty well and that is why I thought we should have tried to score.

Towles was on fire and I think he could have completed a couple passes toward the sidelines and got us potentially into field goal range. Sometime this year we are going to need to score with a minute or two left and not working on that aspect of our game could come back to haunt us. We had 3 possessions total before the one in question and only one did we struggle to move the ball, the first drive of the game for us.

As soon as we came out in the second half, we had 2 three and outs and Missouri took the lead by 3. We were fortunate on the next drive to get a penalty called on Missouri that may have saved that drive. That led to a touchdown for us. So things could have easily went another direction where we could have lost by 7 points or less.

 

[CATFANFOLIFE87]

Ky fans have always been able to bring the venom. On TV the crowd was louder at the end of the half when it was booing the hell out of the offense then at anytime I heard when Mizzou had the ball, except right after pick six that was called back.

You couldn't be more wrong. The atmosphere was excellent the entire time and the crowd was standing and yelling on every defensive play the whole game. The whole stadium wasn't booing so how could it have been louder than it was when every fan was getting loud on a 3rd down stand?

I've witnessed very few boos of our own team and coaches in the stadium other than when Joker was running the program into the ground but most of those were justified. I'm not sure where you're getting that UK fans bring the venom

 

[secrules3]

To me it's like the coaches don't have faith in the team. That could have and did IMO have some effect on both teams confidence coming out of the half. Again, just my opinion.

 

[anon_013cn8yrfncx2]

Not running your two minute drill with two and a half minutes and two time outs. Was playing not to lose.
Not using it as an opportunity to go up at least by three (which may have been the difference in winning or losing) and playing to win.

Sorry but this is ridiculous. We started inside our own 10 yard line. Only a fool would go into a two minute drill from there.

 

[anon_013cn8yrfncx2]

[QUOTE="

Towles was on fire and I think he could have completed a couple passes toward the sidelines and got us potentially into field goal range. .[/QUOTE]

So why did we only have 7 points .. why hadn't he done that earlier. Why not do the 2-minute drill the whole game if it's so easy.

 

[ukcatsfan2]

An important point about the end of the half possession is the Cats didn't just run three plays and out. They closed out the half just like they have closed out two of their three wins. Controlling the ball and exerting their will on the opponent. That can't be discounted both in confidence and a blow to the opposing team's defensive psyche.

Excellent Point!

 

[KyCatFan]

[QUOTE="

Towles was on fire and I think he could have completed a couple passes toward the sidelines and got us potentially into field goal range. .

So why did we only have 7 points .. why hadn't he done that earlier. Why not do the 2-minute drill the whole game if it's so easy.[/QUOTE]

The defense played pretty well, but if you don't have many 3 and outs then you don't have as many chances to score. As I said we only had 3 possessions before that one. The only one that was completely ineffective was the first drive of the game. We scored on the second drive and drove from our own 4 yard line to their 40 the next possession. The last possession of the half was very similar in where we started at. We had already moved the ball 27 yards on this drive with a minute and 2 timeouts left.

This offense has shown that it can score in a hurry this year when we are aggressive. Being conservative at places like Alabama can win you tons of games, but at Kentucky, where we have a talent disparity, I think you need to be more aggressive. If not you have horrible second halves like we have shown most of the year and you either lose or squeak out wins. We started out the 2nd half very conservative and it looked like we were headed for another bad half. Fortunately we started being aggressive again and moved the ball and proceeded to score on two of the next 3 possessions. The one we didn't was back to being conservative running 3 straight times and punting. I just think this team has a chance to have a special year if we play to win and not play not to lose.

 

[Chuckinden]

Were you actually watching? We got as far as the 29 and snapped the ball with 53 seconds. Now it would not have been terrible to try a pass at that point but the risk/reward was not very good. Would have had to get at least 35 yards for a long try. The coaches obviously had more faith in the team going tied into the second half than all those who wanted to throw caution to the wind.

I somewhat agree, but if we had lost by three points, many would be more upset that we didn't try to do more at that time.

I just feel that it was a good time to test our two minute drill. We were at the 20 with 1:40 left and I would have liked to have seen a little more aggressiveness in our game plan. I'm not saying taking shots downfield. A good two minute drill takes no chances unless you're trying to score to win. Take no sacks, throw the ball away if nothing is there, etc.

As I said, I guess the coaches felt we are not there yet to test it and if that's the case, then it was good to go conservative.

 

[BigBluePhantom]

Very contradictory post. The team we were playing had only scored once too. We were on the 30, right? We can't keep them out of FG position with limited time if we have to punt? Again, no confidence and a playing not to lose attitude. "Probably get in good field position and get at least a FG"? Really? Again, no confidence in offense or defense.

I said would try not to blast you but you are making it really hard. You get it but yet you don't. Sometimes it is the right call to play not to lose. This was one of those times. We could have (a)tried to win the game in one minute when the odds are against us and we would be taking a lot of chances or (b) go in tied and come back out and win it when the odds were in out favor. This one was a no brainer and (sorry, I can't help myself) of course many of our brainless fan base wanted to go all in for 1 minute when there was 30 minutes of better hunting just on the horizon.

 

[2bunnies]

I was there and no one was too happy. We had just over 2 1/2 minutes. We got the ball out to the 30 with about 1:55 on clock. We never ran a play to stop the clock. We had the momentum. We had the crowd fever. Everyone yelling "2 min drill". It was remind full of some past years. There was no reason not to attempt one long pass at least for field goal range. if the pass isn't there, run it out of bounds or or throw a uncatchable. Plenty of time to put up points in a close game. It was very vanilla. I understand keeping the ball on ground and hoping for an escape on the ground, but I hear "don't trust QB to make the pass ".

I agree the fans booing isn't good, but in the atmosphere it was understandable.

 

[TIME SPENT WITH CATS IS NEVER WASTED]

I'm laughing!

For the past 75 years THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY has been TAGGED "A BASKETBALL SCHOOL".

I'm amazed at the "wet behind the ears" KENTUCKY FAN who never realizes HOW the UK BASKETBALL PROGRAM GOT TO WHERE IT IS. HIGH STANDARDS... CRITICISM... and A DESIRE FOR PERFECTION.

RUPP to CAYWOOD: "That's OK! When you don't think we played well...you BURN OUR *SS!"

IMO, the BOOING before half was MUSIC TO MY EARS: KENTUCKY FOOTBALL FANS expressing their displeasure at what they felt was a lack of aggressive, push the pigskin, philosophy. I LOVED IT.

We may be a BASKETBALL SCHOOL... but all of BBN wants to WIN IN FOOTBALL too! THIS is what ALL THE BOO'S meant to me. KENTUCKY FOOTBALL MATTERS!

GO BIG BLUE!

 

[shutzhund]

I was at the game and thought it was a good decision, but for those who say the coaches or players pay no attention to the booing I don't agree. Coach brought it up on the post game show, he asked Leach(I think) if the fans were booing him. Seemed kinda hurt by it actually. Then he explained his decision. So,, he definetly heard!

I

. They may have been moved to wish that we had smarter fans than those who were showing their displeasure by booing.

I can hear my neighbor's dog barking when I run past, I hear him but I know he's only a dog and I consider the source. I like the dog but he still is only a dog.

Respectful but fully aware of the source is how I would like to think the players and coaches would feel about the booing.

 

[SangMan]

I think people are missing his intentions all together. Personally, I believe he he knew we could beat them straight up in the second half. He was confident of that fact and didn't want to take a chance in them pulling momentum into the half. It was a freaking 20 mph head wind at least on the field. Risk vs reward was not on our side. Pats best throws all night were with the wind to his back. Instead of booing that we didn't take shots. Should have been cheering that we ate the clock up and got it out from the 2.

 

[sgt4269]

Sorry but this is ridiculous. We started inside our own 10 yard line. Only a fool would go into a two minute drill from there.

Uhm. That's the point of a two min drill - to go length of the field to score in two mins. We had about 2:34 and two time outs. Plenty of time. Not to mention Stoops even admitted that was his plan until they didn't get a second down they wanted.
So does that mean coach Stoops is stupid because he intended to run the 2 min drill?

 

[AllCatsEverything5]

Sorry but this is ridiculous. We started inside our own 10 yard line. Only a fool would go into a two minute drill from there.

Except we got out to the 30 yard line after 2 runs plays and still had 1:40 on the clock. That's when you go into 2 min drill.