Beware: The turncoats are coming
Clayton Ward
Issue date: 11/5/09 Section: Sports
It's that time of year again.
Leaves begin falling from trees, turkeys begin fearing for their lives and Eastern students begin turning a traitorous leaf.
With the Eastern versus UK game coming up this weekend, I foresee the student body color slowly turning from maroon to blue.
Before we get into that nonsense, let me drop some knowledge on you (and yes, I did just use early 90's cool rap lingo).
Eastern took the Big Ten's Hoosiers to the wire earlier this season-the same Indiana team that took a then-ranked No. 23 Michigan to the last two minutes of the game before losing. The Hoosiers were also leading the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeye's last week heading into the fourth quarter. If it weren't for Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi turning into a god amongst men, the Hoosiers would likely have pulled off the upset.
Kentucky's Mike Hartline has matched his touchdowns to his interceptions with six, averaging more than a pick per game.
Eastern's defense ranks 10th in Division I football (amongst all FBS and FCS teams) for interceptions with 14.
While I'm obviously biased toward my beloved Colonels, don't take me for a fool. Kentucky is in the SEC and does play an incredibly tough schedule. This is a credit to the Wildcats, but it's also a hindrance. You can only lose so many games before losing morale when facing weaker competition. Also, playing the best players in the nation week in and week out has an effect on your stamina, and injuries will occur.
Eastern won't be getting too many votes of confidence from experts, and that's OK. It's an FCS team playing a SEC team. That makes it easier for those closet Wildcat fans to speak up about how much they don't want Eastern to beat UK.
I've heard all the arguments from these Benedict Arnold "true blue" fans, the most common being:
"I grew up a Kentucky fan," and "Kentucky can play in a BCS bowl."
You might as well be yelling "banana, banana, banana" because it makes about as much sense.
Leaves begin falling from trees, turkeys begin fearing for their lives and Eastern students begin turning a traitorous leaf.
With the Eastern versus UK game coming up this weekend, I foresee the student body color slowly turning from maroon to blue.
Before we get into that nonsense, let me drop some knowledge on you (and yes, I did just use early 90's cool rap lingo).
Eastern took the Big Ten's Hoosiers to the wire earlier this season-the same Indiana team that took a then-ranked No. 23 Michigan to the last two minutes of the game before losing. The Hoosiers were also leading the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeye's last week heading into the fourth quarter. If it weren't for Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi turning into a god amongst men, the Hoosiers would likely have pulled off the upset.
Kentucky's Mike Hartline has matched his touchdowns to his interceptions with six, averaging more than a pick per game.
Eastern's defense ranks 10th in Division I football (amongst all FBS and FCS teams) for interceptions with 14.
While I'm obviously biased toward my beloved Colonels, don't take me for a fool. Kentucky is in the SEC and does play an incredibly tough schedule. This is a credit to the Wildcats, but it's also a hindrance. You can only lose so many games before losing morale when facing weaker competition. Also, playing the best players in the nation week in and week out has an effect on your stamina, and injuries will occur.
Eastern won't be getting too many votes of confidence from experts, and that's OK. It's an FCS team playing a SEC team. That makes it easier for those closet Wildcat fans to speak up about how much they don't want Eastern to beat UK.
I've heard all the arguments from these Benedict Arnold "true blue" fans, the most common being:
"I grew up a Kentucky fan," and "Kentucky can play in a BCS bowl."
You might as well be yelling "banana, banana, banana" because it makes about as much sense.
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