UK vs. Tennessee 2009 Football Preview

Marooncat79
WT Member

This week the Kiffins (Monte and Lane) roll into Lexington to take on those pesky Wildcats from the Commonwealth. As most fans know, the Vols have had the CATS number for quite some time, and look to exact this years beating on the historically bad kittens of Rich Brooks and Company.

When the Big Orange shows up on Senior Day, the heat will be on the CATS to end this stupid losing streak and make a special mark in Wildcat lore. During this streak, the CATS have found novel ways to lose this competition in ways most CAT Fans would love to forget.

Tennessee seems to always have one of the Top 10 recruiting classes of College Football Talent in the Nation. Their talent and history is well known. The CATS on the other hand have upgraded talent at every level, and look to show The Big Orange that it is a New Day in Town and things may look the same, but are in fact quite different.

This year, the teams stack up better than usual. The CATS seem to be peaking at the right time, the Vols struggle away from home; the CATS are tired of hearing about the Vols and their dominance over previous Wildcat teams.

On offense, the Vols have a dominant O-Line, running game (led by Hardesty and Company) and an improving QB in Crompton. The CATS have a young, and improving D-Line led by C Peters which looks to take away the running lanes, and make Tennessee 1 dimensional with the passing game. Crompton is easy to rattle, the running game is not. If Tennessee controls the line of scrimmage and the running game, the day could get long and tiresome for the Wildcats. If the Kittens hold the point of attack, and get heat on Crompton, the CATS can end this silliness called “The Streak”. If the CAT D plays up to its potential and gets them out of their comfort zone, the CATS will be tough to handle—just ask Georgia!

The CATS Offense is much like the Vol’s Offense in that they both like the run game. As usual, look for Joker to keep Tennessee off balance with the “WildCobb Formation”. This years Wildcat O-line is the best it has been in many years, and can control the UT Front 4 due to its depth and talent. For the CATS to win, they will have to keep Eric Berry in check by mixing the passing game and running game with equal deadliness. If a UK quarterback (especially Newton) can hit 3-4 long balls to a receiver and keep the Tennessee defensive backs honest the CATS can definitely ride off into the sunset victorious over the prima donna Vols.

The other key to a Wildcat Victory will be special teams. The CATS will have to keep the special teams “Clean” meaning no penalties or bad plays which can spin the game in favor of Lane’s team. The most important player will be Ryan Tydlacka, it will be up to him to make the Vols have a long field each time he punts the ball. This game may actually come down to a field goal, and if that happens Lones Seiber will be able to atone for all of the past with 1 kick which would put him at the top of the UK Mt. Rushmore for the last 30 yrs.

Almost every game, fans hear coaches speak of “all 3 phases of the game” IE Offense, Defense, and Special Teams being important in victory. This is very true of this years game for the “Beer Barrel (yeah, but it will always be that to me). If the CATS win the game, it will be because they win all 3 phases and nothing else.

This years edition of the Volunteers is very beatable, for that to happen the Wildcats must play clean and tough from beginning to end. As stated before, look for the game to come down to a field goal. This is the one year that I am counting on Lones to ride off into the sunset not only as UK’s leading scorer of all time, but also as “The Hero who Broke the UT Streak”! I am also looking for Brooks to be on someone’s shoulders for the simple reason that he led the team in victory over UT!

CATS 31-30