Catching Up On What I’ve Missed About Life And Kentucky Football
I recently returned from a week of vacation. This particular trip was unique. You can read later that my time away was life-changing. I have one general rule in regard to recreational activities. It’s pretty simple, really: I only vacation within the SEC footprint. So, I decided to return to my piece of heaven on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
My trip consisted of early morning walks on a pier over the bay, destroying fresh seafood, napping, and reading by the pool. I’ve long said that my final retirement home will be on the Mississippi coast. Last week’s trip solidified those plans. Enough of my vacation. Let’s talk some football.
Conference Realignment
I returned to a different world. The Pac-12 now has four teams. The B1G brought in Washington and Oregon. The Big 12 has added some decent, but not Earth-shattering programs. The ACC is reaching to stay relevant even though Florida State is screaming to depart the old Power 5’s weakest league. The SEC, well, the Daddy of athletic conferences is staying put, for now.
All this posturing could be the foundation for the major players to finally break away from the antiquated NCAA and its asinine rules. To go even further, college football may split from the other sports in order to form a quasi-NFL-modeled collection of superpowers. Who knows how this will all shake out. But, life as the college football world knew it is over. And, that’s okay.
All the moves and posturing are all about one thing: money. Some are quick to bash players and coaches who leave their current residences in order to secure a pay and or status increase at a new location. Recent conference realignment signifies that the supposed adults in the room (college presidents and ADs) are doing just that. Let’s not kid ourselves anymore. College football is a business that operates in profit margins, not traditions. Has the college football landscape changed forever? Yes. Let’s get into the Cats, shall we?
Cats in Camp
I completely unplugged while on vacation. I did jump back on the “X” for a few minutes but immediately left once I saw all the conference stuff. I’ve been reading KSR’s fall camp coverage upon my return and it’s been awesome. Devin Leary is confirming my hunch that he’s a much better fit for Coen’s offense than his predecessor. Other signals show that the UK offensive line is flashing Big Blue Wall traits. That’s a good thing, but will it stick? We’ll see. I think it can. Here are a few more tidbits that jumped out at me.
JJ Weaver
JJ Weaver has garnered praise from the Senior Bowl and NFL Draft talking heads throughout the country. I mentioned his weight and strength gains on the KSR Football Podcast a few weeks ago. Pictures of the EDGE defender confirm just that. Weaver is bigger, stronger, and faster in what is a contract season for the Louisville product. The Cats need him to increase his QB sack and TFL numbers in 2023.
Wide Receivers
Dane Key and Barion Brown are confirmed “Dudes.” We know who and what they are as well as their value to Liam Coen. But, who’s going to join them? The slot role is questionable in my opinion. Tayvion Robinson has to earn my trust back after a noticeable late-season letdown in 2022. He’s being mentioned on NFL Draft boards, but I have to see 13 consistent games from the Virginia Tech transfer before anointing him the solution on the inside.
Dekel Crowdus has been mentioned as well. But, he’s looking at potentially missing time due to an off-the-field situation. Anthony Brown drew Lynn Bowden Jr. comparisons from Vince Marrow along with praise from Mark Stoops. The speedy rookie has a chance to be special. But, his current size may hinder him from completely exploding onto the scene, especially against SEC competition.
I’m excited for Brown’s debut. Probably too much. My hope is that Crowdus is focused and dialed in on playing college football games. Robinson is an NFL talent, but last season’s collapse is too fresh for me to completely trust his presumed rededication to the game. If none of the abovementioned can be difference makers, Coen could deploy multiple TE personnel groups and still experience success through strategic one-on-one matchups against linebackers. I’m happy to read that Izayah Cummings has resurfaced.
Photo by Freddie Maggard | Kentucky Sports Radio
Two-Minute Offense
Stick with me on this. Two-minute offense is normally installed and repped towards the end of the fall camp portion of the preseason. Liam Coen was pleased with his offense in this practice situation in the first week. This tells me quite a bit.
First, Leary is a seasoned veteran that I feel can really flourish at Kentucky. Experience is vital in the two-minute offense. He is said to also be distributing the football to all eligible pass catchers. Another positive. Second, last season’s two-minute can only be accurately described as an utter cluster*&#@. Plays were too wordy, linemen struggled to block due to overthinking, and so forth. A fruitful two-minute period this early in camp indicates that Coen’s system projects a more seamless and player-friendly execution. Playing winning football in these conditions is not easy, especially against a Brad White defense.
Of all the news that I’ve read, the offense’s success in two-minute has me most excited about the 2023 season. I know firsthand the difficulties of an 11-man operation under these stressful conditions. Achievement this early in fall camp is significant.
Photo by Freddie Maggard | Kentucky Sports Radio
What Does All This Mean?
The Mississippi Gulf Coast has been my piece of heaven for a couple of decades now. I love the culture, food, music, and serenity that I find there. My return trip to Kentucky was supposed to be a pleasant nine-hour journey. I even made a “Drive Home” playlist full of optimistic music envisioned to help kill time and prepare me for the football grind that awaited. But, just like in life, things change.
A closed I-65 just north of Nashville extended my time in my trusty Corolla to 17.5 hours on the road. This would normally lead to frustration and impatience. But, it didn’t; I wouldn’t allow it. You see, I lost a teammate on the day I departed Kentucky. My center, Brian Cralle, tragically passed away at the young age of 56. Brian makes six UK teammates that I’ve lost over the past five or so years. Brian’s passing led me to an inner inspection of my own life. I came to many realizations. I needed to make some changes.
Last week’s vacation was necessary and a life-changing experience. A lesson I’ve learned on far too many occasions is that life is too damn short to allow stress, hurry, or worry to enter the equation. As Tyler Thompson said, I found my Zen. I really think I did. My own sister thought I was hacked in our family group text because I was being all nice and stuff while sitting still for five hours on a hot parking lot otherwise known as I-65.
Hugs mean more than they did a couple of weeks ago. Walks are longer and more peaceful. I try to eliminate my irrational obsession with checklists and the old Army adage of “Hurry up and wait.” Conversations with those that I care about are more real and a true two-way operation. Am I on a vacation high that will surely crash? Perhaps. I’ve learned the hard way to enjoy each day. A minute wasted in negativity is 60 seconds that I can’t get back. American hero Jack Dawson said it best at a dinner table on the Titanic, “To make each day count.” Here’s to making it count.
I needed Mississippi. The Magnolia State delivered. Go Cats!
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