My Father’s Day Gift Request Was For More Fun at Kroger Field
Happy Father’s Day. My kids are taking me out to supper this evening. My plan is to wear out a steak (medium well with ketchup and hot sauce on top) and a loaded baked potato with extra sour cream. I’ll likely suck down at least five or six ice-cold Diet Cokes to go along with a loaf or two of pre-chow bread. Not sure if you’ve read the memo yet or not, but diets aren’t allowed on Dad Day; or at least not in my family.
I don’t know about other dads, but my two kids ask me a million times exactly what do I want for Father’s Day. I never know how to respond since I’m usually the one that ends up footing the bill for my own presents. This year I replied, “More fun at Kroger Field.” They both looked confused at my response. I was joking of course, but not really. Mitch Barnhart announced on Friday that beer and seltzer will be available for sale, so that should help some. But, on-field play is the most important factor that leads to a fun or “meh” day at the stadium.
The truth is that I didn’t really enjoy home games very much during the 2022 season. There were many reasons why. I figured we’d get into a few.
Wait a minute, what the heck is a seltzer? I have many questions about that drink. Sorry, back on topic.
Too Many Closer Than Necessary Wins
There were too many outings that involved unnecessary scoreboard stress. In other words, what should have been blowouts resulted in close games. Slow starts abounded. Leads were rarely safe enough. Opponent’s late comebacks were too frequent. As you’ll read in this post, UK gave up far too many negative offensive plays that aggravated the Big Blue Nation and stagnated Rich Scangarello’s unit on their home turf. First up was the opener.
Kentucky 37, Miami (OH) 13
FUN LEVEL: 4.5
The much anticipated first glimpse at a Scangarello-ran offense with senior quarterback Will Levis put up just 13 first-half points against the visiting MAC opponent. Miami scored 10 in the first two quarters. There was growing angst in Kroger Field with a three-point lead until Barion Brown sprinted 100 yards on a kickoff return to start the third quarter. Brown’s heroics were followed by a Keidron Smith fumble recovery for a score. A close game loosened after a couple of non-offensive scores.
The ‘Cats pulled away to win the game 37-13, but fans wanted and expected more from the Kentucky offense. Levis and company put up 353 total yards against a MAC defense that held the ‘Cats to just 50 rushing yards of 26 attempts. The 1.9 yards per rush and the fact that UK surrendered four QB sacks and four tackles for loss would prove to be a precursor for season-long struggles from a substandard offensive line.
Miami didn’t turn out to be a good MAC team. The RedHawks finished the 2022 season with a 6-7 record. Warning signs surrounding the Kentucky offense were lighting up the Bluegrass sky.
Kentucky 31, Youngstown State 0
FUN LEVEL: 7 (Happiness for Stoops added to this number)
The ‘Cats dropped down a division to take on the Youngstown State Penguins as Youngstown, OH native Mark Stoops became the program’s all-time winningest coach against his hometown team on that Saturday. But, yet again, the UK offense sputtered out of the gate. The score was 0-0 after the first quarter. Frustrating. The ‘Cats put up 21 in the second, seven in the third, and a field goal in the fourth to win 31-0. Still, there was something missing about this team. Something was just something off, mostly with the offense.
The running game again withered after putting up a mere 103 yards on the ground with an average of 2.9 yards per attempt. Kentucky also gave up four QB sacks for the second consecutive home game. The once proud Big Blue Wall also surrendered a frustrating and incomprehensible 10 tackles for loss. Not good. Not good at all.
The defense was amazing and was so for the majority of the year. This post is mainly directed at the offense. Defensive coordinator Brad White yet again proved to be one of the league’s best. He and his staff pitched a shutout in this one which is rare in the collegiate game. YSU was a good, not great, FCS team that rounded out 2022 with a 7-4 record. But again, 10 TFLs allowed was far too disturbing for this game to be considered fun.
Kentucky 31, Northern Illinois 23
FUN LEVEL: 5.5
Mark Stoops’ postgame words said it all, “Overall, just a sluggish game. Good to get it behind us.” The then-No. 8 ranked Wildcats were tied with the visiting Huskies 14-14 at the half before scoring 10 unanswered in the third quarter. NIU outpaced the Wildcats 9-7 in the final period for a final score of UK 31, NIU 23. Way, way too close.
Will Levis was excellent. The QB completed 18-26 passes for 303 yards and four touchdowns. But again, the opponent sacked the Wildcat quarterback five times and registered six additional tackles for loss. A lowly 2.9 yards per rush attempt wasn’t enough to keep the visitors from bringing pressure and getting home on many occasions.
Northern Illinois was not a good football team. The Huskies finished the 2022 season with a 3-9 record.
Kentucky 26, Louisville 13
FUN LEVEL: 7
The Governor’s Cup had produced routes in favor of Kentucky during the Scott Satterfield era. His final variation was a closer-than-necessary 26-13 win over the visiting Cardinals. A positive was that the UK offensive line only gave up two QB sacks and six tackles for loss. The visitors had put up a ton of each leading up to the Governor’s Cup.
UK stretched its regular season record to 7-5. By most measurables, and based on talent as well as expectations, 2022 was a disappointing year. One of my all-time favorite Wildcats, Chris Rodriguez Jr. put up 120 yards in his final game in Lexington and paced Kentucky to a hard-fought victory.
I put the Fun Level at 7 for this one. Ls were thrown down. A trophy was retained. Anytime those two are combined, fun is the result. But, the Big Blue Nation had grown accustomed to blowouts against Louisville. That being said, a win is a win, especially in a rivalry series. The Cardinals weren’t terrible after all and posted an 8-5 record. The end of the season was more of a relief than a celebration going into bowl prep.
There were two home losses that just can’t happen at Kentucky, especially in the same year. This isn’t fun, but let’s get into it.
Losing to Beamer and Vandy at Home Just Can’t Happen
Kentucky 14, South Carolina 24
FUN LEVEL: 2
Shane Beamer is considered an up-and-rising head coach in college football. He’s caught some serious breaks, including facing substitute QBs, in surprising wins during his tenure as well. That was the case against Kentucky. Will Levis did not play against the Gamecocks. The ‘Cats were mainly offensively toothless.
Carolina held Kentucky to less than 300 total yards (299). UK went just 3-12 on third downs and gave up six QB sacks and right tackles for loss on their way to losing to the visitors 24-14 at Kroger Field. This particular L will be rehashed over and over and over again for the remainder of the offseason. This will especially apply to SEC Media Days in July. Ugh.
Losing to South Carolina stinks. Losing to the Gamecocks at Kroger Field reeks worse. Backup QB Kaiya Sheron actually played well after going 15-27 for 178 yards and a couple of scores. But he did throw a costly interception. There was a loss coming later that was even worse than this one.
The Vanderbilt Loss
Kentucky 21, Vanderbilt 24
FUN LEVEL: 0.5
This can’t happen. Ever, ever again. Vanderbilt beat Kentucky for their first SEC win in their last 26 tries. Yep, the Commodores were riding a 0-26 conference losing streak prior to beating Kentucky 24-21 at Kroger Field. Disgusting to type, worse to actually watch. But, I have to tip my hat to Clark Lea and his team for doing what they needed to do in order to leave Lexington as victors.
VU outgained UK 448-322. That’s not an upset win by a fluke play. That’s a close-game *^# whoopin. Will Levis threw for just 109 yards but the ‘Cats rushed for 213. Didn’t matter. Horrible day for Kentucky football, the Big Blue Nation, and Lexington all together. The ‘Cats had dropped from being ranked in the top 10 to losing to lowly Vanderbilt at home within a course of a month.
Respectable Loss to Georgia
Kentucky 6, Georgia 16
FUN LEVEL: 5.5
Kentucky played the eventual undefeated national champions better than anyone else in the 2022 season. Brad White’s defense limited the high-powered Dawgs to 16 points and 363 total yards which must be considered a tremendous accomplishment after seeing what UGA did to TCU in the title game.
Amazingly, UK surrendered just one QB sack and five TFLs against Kirby Smart’s nightmare defense. A quick look back showed that FCS’s Youngstown State sacked UK QBs on four occasions and racked up 10 tackles for loss. This is the frustration that was 2022.
The lead-up to this game wasn’t as electric as years prior. This was mainly due to the Wildcats’ lackluster offense and the recent Vandy loss.
What Does All This Mean?
Allowing negative offensive plays sucked the life out of the home crowd in 2022. I know it did me. UK gave up 26 QB sacks and 45 tackles for loss in seven contests at Kroger Field. Those numbers frustrated and aggravated ticket holders, coaches, and players alike. Mark Stoops has supposedly remedied his offensive line woes for 2023, but those two stat lines paint an accurate picture of fan frustrations from a year ago.
Am I being selfish or outlandish to make such a Father’s Day wish? Yes, heck yes. Ties and socks are a common gift for the occasion, but I don’t wear ties or socks these days.
But, it’s my request and it’s Dad Day, so I get a pass. Heck, I don’t even go to games at Kroger Field. I do the pregame show before going home to watch from my recliner and/or through my living room window from my porch depending on how close the games are. But still, I have family and about 60,000 friends that do go to Kroger Field. I’m at the stage in my life where I get my happiness from seeing those I care for being happy. I want fun at UK home games darn it, and a lot of it.
**UPDATE: My youngest got me a vanilla candle (I love, love candles, a Pay Day candy bar, and pictures. My oldest hooked me up with a shampoo and haircut at Floyds 99 H/T Drew Franklin). I’ll wait to see if more fun is had at Kroger Field this fall.
Happy Father’s Day.
Source: KSR
