October 25, 2024 • 17 mins
Wildcat Whip with Jeff Piecoro, Dick Gabriel & Will Fidler pre Auburn.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Behind Kentucky Football, presented by District seventh Social.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Welcome to the Wildcat Whips at Gabriel Jeff Picall and
Tom Leach is otherwise occupied his own assignment. As we
say so, we have a guest filling in for mister Leech,
a guy who knows what it's like not only to
play against Auburn, but to beat the Tigers. And that
his former UK quarterback Will Fiddler.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Thank you, happy to be here and you invited me
on as a guest. I didn't realize I was going
to have to fill in for Tom Leech. That's a
much different act.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
You played against Auburn. You were part of a win
down there, and it was in twenty nine. Cats haven't
had a whole lot of success against Auburn that year.
I think you guys had lost three or four straight
and really needed a win going into an SEC road game.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
What do you remember about that challenge?
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Well, I remember there being a tremendous amount of drama
leading up to the game. Not only did we need
a win, we we had not been successful and I
think at that point in time, uh we had a
losing record where maybe we were just south of five
hundred going into that game, and really there were a
(01:12):
lot of question marks about you know, the rest of
the season. Uh, Mike Cartline had sustained an injury there.
They were pretty hush hush about who was going to
start at quarterback for that Auburn game. There was there
was a little bit of up people in the locker
room surrounding that. But you know, I think before that
game we just decided we weren't going to let any
of that get to us. And at a certain point
(01:34):
everybody locked arms and we were gonna win that game, and.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
They unleashed on them.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
You know what was cool about that win is Kentucky
played three different quarterbacks that night, counting Randall Cobb in
the Wildcat, and well, all three of you guys scored touchdowns.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
That was amazing to me. You remember that.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
I I do. I mean it was. It was a
lot of fun, and you know, we just got back
to the basics of football. And I think what a
lot of teams do when they have an injury at
the starting quarterback position. As you simplify the offense a
little bit, you have less at the line of scrimmage,
audibles going on, and things of that nature. You try
to get everybody comfortable, and that really worked for us
(02:18):
that game. We ran the ball when we needed to
run the ball, we threw the ball when we needed
to throw the ball, and we got a lot of
different people in.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
The end zone.
Speaker 5 (02:25):
Well can you believe, he asked, if you remembered the touchdown? Man,
I remember the touchdowns I scored in pee wee football
coming all the way up. Of course, you remember the
touchdowns you score, especially when it's against a team like Alburn. Yeah,
but let me let me ask you this, well, because
it's almost the same. It's eerily similar, isn't it. The
situation that this year's team is as to year team.
(02:47):
It's not an injury to a quarterback. But you've had
a lot of injuries on this team.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Uh, you know, as we as we.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
Sit here now, the the participation report has come out,
I call it the injury report. Sure, but Mitzi will
not play this week and that's that's your right tackle.
So they've had some problems in the offensive line. I
just want to ask you this from a quarterback standpoint,
how tough is it when you have questions in your
own mind as a quarterback about the five guys in
front of you.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
I think it adds a lot of complexity to an
already extremely complex position. And you've got a lot going
on pre snap and then during the play and whenever
you have the added element of you know, wondering if
you're going to get enough time to go through your
progressions and you know, see the play through. It definitely
(03:38):
creates challenges and makes it hard to play the position
for sure.
Speaker 5 (03:42):
Well, you also talked about what you guys did going
into the game simplify things a little bit. Now you
can't go back all the way to the simple basics.
But I like that attitude going in. But you guys
had a wrinkle that this team really doesn't use. It's
not really in that offense, but it's that wildcat and
(04:03):
that just gives you that extra blocker on the edge.
Takes a lot of a lot of pressure off of
you being the quarterback and running the ball as well
when you go to that wildcat.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Correct, Yeah, it does. You know, I couldn't figure out
why every time we ran wildcats they lined me up
at a wide receiver position and then ran the opposite direction.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
Okay, like when I was in.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
You know, I mean not just the wildcat at you know,
added wrinkle, but a guy by the name of Randall Cobb,
who you know at that time was a future pro bowler,
and he was a tremendous player and athlete. You know,
he obviously took control when he was in the wildcat
position and made a lot happen with his feet.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
We're talking with Will Fiddler here on the wildcat whip.
Will former Kentucky quarterback and was part of the Kentucky
upseid when at Auburn back in twenty oh nine, the
last time the Cats played against Auburn, and as Jeff said,
some situation or trying to snap a losing skid.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Auburn's got problems of its.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Own, but it was interesting you mentioned pulling together in
the locker room, and I got to think that was
a player generated kind of emotional moment.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
That's something that you know, coaches can't make you do that.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
It has to be genuine, has to be organic, if
you will, what do you recall about that?
Speaker 4 (05:24):
And then you know who pulled.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Things together and what that was like, you guys as
a team getting together and saying enough is enough, We're
tired of this losing.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Yeah, I mean it's it's uh. You know, somebody has
to emerge in the locker room as a leader in
times like that. And you know that beforehand, there was
a lot of turmoil that the fan base may not
have been aware of due to the call to start
Morgan Newton. And you know, you can question the reasons
and note all day long, but that was what had
(05:56):
to happen, and like what happened. And at a certain point,
you know, I stood up in front of the team
and said, hey, guys, you may not agree with the
game plan, but I can promise you we'll have a
zero chance of winning if we aren't all marching to
the beat of the same dramas, not all on that
game game plan. It may not be the best, but
let's get into the game and adapt and roll with it.
(06:17):
And we just decided, like I said, we decided before
that game ever started that we were going to win.
We're going to do whatever it takes to win. And
you know, I think the team took on that identity
after that and went on to win some other some
other big teams Georgia, you know, and had a somewhat
successful rest of the season, and.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Not only Georgia, Georgia at Georgia, which brings me to
my next question. You were at Auburn when you got
that win. And Jeff has told us before that there are.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
Advantages to playing on the road.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
You can tune out the crowd, you can make them
sit down by taking an early lead. But you've got
that we're all in this together thing, Fewer distractions. You know,
you're you're at the hotel, you're meeting, you're eating together.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Did that help you at Auburn? I got to think
it did a little bit.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Yeah, absolutely, you know, bringing back a lot of good
memories about that weekend, and it is helpful whenever you
you know, everybody you get on the airplane, you fly
down there, you're all one cohesive unit from midday Friday
through the end of the game. And I think that's
that definitely helps. You know, there's no easy you know,
there are a lot of challenging environments on the road
(07:26):
in the SEC, and Auburn is certainly one of them.
But if you can quiet the crowd take control of
the game, you know, I think that that can help.
And I think Kentucky's showing the ability to win on
the road, so that gives me a lot of hope
on this weekend.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
This podcast is presented by District seven Social located in
the heart of the Distillery District in Lexington. D seven
is not just a place to eat, but also a
social hall, a gathering spot, and a source of entertainment
suitable for any celebration, including a UK game. Make sure
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They'll be saving this seat for you.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Well, Jeff and I were both there with a radio
network obviously, and I remember sitting on the bench during
beginning to wrap up show and they took the scoreboard
down instantly as soon as the game was over, they
cut power to the scoreboard. So I'm like asking Jeff
and dumb what was that score again? Yeah, I knew,
I knew Kentucky had won. But that's all part of
(08:25):
the fun of winning on the road.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
Isn't it.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Yeah, absolutely, And they were not happy. And I remember
we were we were playing against another you know, the
quarterback for Auburn was Chris Todd from Elizabeth Towns. An
even sweeter victory.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
Yeah, yeah, you know will I and I.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Also remember it being about forty five degrees. Well, so
after halftime, so it was it was a challenge to
stay warm the entire first half of the game.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
You know.
Speaker 5 (08:53):
Will You mentioned having a players only meeting and stuff,
And that's one thing I tell these guys all the
time is at this point in the season, I mean,
this is a must win situation. If they are going
to go to a bowl game this year, they have
to win this game because they've got two really tough
contests in Tennessee and Texas on the road, and then
(09:13):
they have Louisville as well. This is a must win.
Speaker 4 (09:17):
And one thing you.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
And I tell them this all the time because they say, look,
they're really getting up on the field, And I said,
if you're not amped up before you walk out on
the field, there's no coach can't do anything to get
you there. It has to be the upper classmen and
the leaders of the team that pull these guys together.
You have a player's only meeting, or you have the
guys at each of the different positions who are upper classmen,
(09:43):
and they kind of take control. They become that a
secondary coach, if you will, or another coach on the field.
But it can't come Saturday morning. It has to be
there through the week.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Yeah, I totally agree, you know you either. I mean
a lot of times you can tell how they aim
on Saturday is going to go by how the practices
go on Tuesday and Wednesday and the walkthrough, and you
can you can sense the focus, the intensity and intentionality
of every team member early in the week. And I
(10:14):
remember that week before that came, the entire offense and
defense is very dialed in. So that's that's exactly right,
and that that comes from the players. That comes from
the upper classmen. Uh, the coaches, you know, they set
the standards, they set the minimum standard, and then it's
up to the upper classmen and the players to really
drive that home through the rest of the team.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Talking to Will Fiddler, he's filling in for Tom Leech
here on the Wildcat Whip. Will, of course a former
UK quarterback Henderson County High School, a Western Kentucky guy.
And we we've watched Will, and I know you've kept
an eye on your beloved wildcast, But watching this program
since Drew Barker was injured, there's been this revolving door
(10:55):
and some have been successful, some not so much. Of
transfer junior college kids who came through the portal to
play quarterback, and it's got to be difficult, I would think,
to try to maintain a culture, if you will, for
a college football team when you can't settle on a
(11:16):
quarterback who's there for more than a year or two.
Speaker 4 (11:19):
Am I right?
Speaker 3 (11:21):
I completely agree. But you know, whether it be fortunately
or unfortunately, isn't that the state of college football?
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (11:32):
True? Yeah, you know.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
Talking with the Kentucky's offensive line coach this week, he
brought up a great point. He said, somebody asked about
one of the youngsters, Richard freshman Abaselm. They said, you
know when we see him more, and he goes, well,
let me tell you. He's been working out, He's doing
everything we're asking. He's getting bigger, he's getting stronger. And
he said, but you know the same thing in Alabama. Yeah,
(11:57):
you don't see many freshmen getting in there and playing
in the SEC. He goes to me, it takes two
years for me to take this kid coming out of
high school and form the clay that I get and
form him into an SEC lineman two years. And I
kind of believe that's kind of the same with a quarterback. Now,
a quarterback, you can have a guy that runs around
(12:17):
back there like a Johnny Manziel or something like that,
but a quarterback that's going to be a cerebral guy
behind center, reading defenses and stuff. It takes more than
a year. And the other problem I see with this
is the cohesiveness that they don't have by going offensive
coordinator to offensive coordinator to offensive coordinator year after year
after year.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
I think that certainly presents a lot of challenge. I mean,
it takes a you know, at least a full season
and maybe two rounds of spring practice to really get
comfortable with it with a new offensive coordinator and an
offensive package. And when you're changing year over year like that,
it adds a lot of challenge and it creates a
(13:01):
lot of confusion, and it certainly, you know, I think
that has as much to do with the cultural aspect
of things. When the starting quarterback is who's at the
offensive coordinator position? And is it a stable situation and
is everybody familiar enough with the offense to where you know,
they could go out and teach it to the younger
classman as they're coming in. And whenever it changes every
(13:22):
year or every two years, that's extremely difficult.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
That's got to add.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
To use your word, to the confusion about this Kentucky team,
which plays brilliantly at Ole.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Miss pulls off the upset.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
If it weren't for the Georgia Alabama game, that's the
headline game of the day and the week prior, could
have maybe should have beaten Georgia itself, and then turns
around a lais an egg against Vandy with a flurry
of penalties and is blown off the ball by Florida.
It's a real head scratching kind of season, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
It is, you know, and I think it one it
goes to show the strength of the SEC, and too,
I think it goes to show that that that's what's
you know. In a way, Yes, it's challenging for the
Kentucky football program, but it is what's so special about
college football, is it? Any team can beat any other team?
Speaker 5 (14:11):
Yeah, you know, well, I think that Texas and In's
former coach Shimbo Fisher said it best when before, when
all this was starting to happen, somebody said something about
Texas and Texas and Oklahoma company the SEC. He said, boys,
you better worry about what you're wishing for because this
is this is totally different and and to your point.
(14:33):
Will look at Oklahoma. I mean, this is a proud program.
They're getting annihilated in the SEC. Their games aren't close.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Yeah, that's a that's a warm and friendly SEC.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
Welcoming well, Georgia, welcome Texas.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Yes, yeah, you know, I mean, I mean, why didn't
we see that coming. Here's a traditional Big twelve power
against the traditional SEC power.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
But like you said, anything can happen.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
You're gonna give me Kirby Smart and a three what
a two time national championship that's lost three games in
three years. You're gonna be five points on the road.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
I'll take that all day, all three games to Alabama.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Yes, yeah, Well, and you want to talk about some
quarterbacks who were worried about their pass protection. I mean
those guys they were rattled both of when you Weres
and harsh manning work. They were struggling from the get go.
And I'm not gonna lie. I would be lying if
I didn't say I took some pleasure and watching that.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
You were one of the few people on this planet
who knows what it's like to have Do you feel
like you said earlier? Linebackers, edge rushers, dns closing in
on you and trying to keep.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Your eyes down the field.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
So as we wrap this up, will tell us what
do you think might happen? What do you think needs
to happen Saturday night when Kentucky plays an Auburn team
with talent but a quarterback situation that's unsettled and a
team that's been killing itself with turnovers.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
Well, I think, you know, like we talked about earlier,
there needs to be some some leadership in the locker
room among the players. Somebody needs to stand up in
front of the team and you know, kind of rally
the troops, get everybody together and make the team decision
that they're going to go out and win this game.
They're going to course correct the rest of their season.
(16:23):
You know, have a better chance of getting Bowl eligible
and you can get things going on the right track,
because you know, I think we're at not just a
pivotal point in the season, but it's a pivotal point
in the program and there's a bit of a where
do we go from here? Type feeling?
Speaker 4 (16:35):
So yeah, you know, I.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Think going out using the talents that they have, coming
up with an offensive strategy and sticking to it. You know,
even if it doesn't work every single drive establishing their
identity and going out and just deciding they're going to
win the game.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Well Fiddler, former Kentucky quarterback, one of three qbs to
score a touchdown and the episode went over Auburn back
in twenty oh nine.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
Failing into Tommys. She did a great job. I appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Thanks Jack, Thanks Jeff, I appreciate you guys. Invite me
on the show.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
And now I'll do it for the Wildcat Whip Jeff
picorl Tom Lee and have since you again. Our thanks
to Will Fiddler and we hope to see you at
the stadium Saturday night.
Welcome to Behind Kentucky Football, presented by District seventh Social.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Welcome to the Wildcat Whips at Gabriel Jeff Picall and
Tom Leach is otherwise occupied his own assignment. As we
say so, we have a guest filling in for mister Leech,
a guy who knows what it's like not only to
play against Auburn, but to beat the Tigers. And that
his former UK quarterback Will Fiddler.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Thank you, happy to be here and you invited me
on as a guest. I didn't realize I was going
to have to fill in for Tom Leech. That's a
much different act.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
You played against Auburn. You were part of a win
down there, and it was in twenty nine. Cats haven't
had a whole lot of success against Auburn that year.
I think you guys had lost three or four straight
and really needed a win going into an SEC road game.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
What do you remember about that challenge?
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Well, I remember there being a tremendous amount of drama
leading up to the game. Not only did we need
a win, we we had not been successful and I
think at that point in time, uh we had a
losing record where maybe we were just south of five
hundred going into that game, and really there were a
(01:12):
lot of question marks about you know, the rest of
the season. Uh, Mike Cartline had sustained an injury there.
They were pretty hush hush about who was going to
start at quarterback for that Auburn game. There was there
was a little bit of up people in the locker
room surrounding that. But you know, I think before that
game we just decided we weren't going to let any
of that get to us. And at a certain point
(01:34):
everybody locked arms and we were gonna win that game, and.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
They unleashed on them.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
You know what was cool about that win is Kentucky
played three different quarterbacks that night, counting Randall Cobb in
the Wildcat, and well, all three of you guys scored touchdowns.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
That was amazing to me. You remember that.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
I I do. I mean it was. It was a
lot of fun, and you know, we just got back
to the basics of football. And I think what a
lot of teams do when they have an injury at
the starting quarterback position. As you simplify the offense a
little bit, you have less at the line of scrimmage,
audibles going on, and things of that nature. You try
to get everybody comfortable, and that really worked for us
(02:18):
that game. We ran the ball when we needed to
run the ball, we threw the ball when we needed
to throw the ball, and we got a lot of
different people in.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
The end zone.
Speaker 5 (02:25):
Well can you believe, he asked, if you remembered the touchdown? Man,
I remember the touchdowns I scored in pee wee football
coming all the way up. Of course, you remember the
touchdowns you score, especially when it's against a team like Alburn. Yeah,
but let me let me ask you this, well, because
it's almost the same. It's eerily similar, isn't it. The
situation that this year's team is as to year team.
(02:47):
It's not an injury to a quarterback. But you've had
a lot of injuries on this team.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Uh, you know, as we as we.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
Sit here now, the the participation report has come out,
I call it the injury report. Sure, but Mitzi will
not play this week and that's that's your right tackle.
So they've had some problems in the offensive line. I
just want to ask you this from a quarterback standpoint,
how tough is it when you have questions in your
own mind as a quarterback about the five guys in
front of you.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
I think it adds a lot of complexity to an
already extremely complex position. And you've got a lot going
on pre snap and then during the play and whenever
you have the added element of you know, wondering if
you're going to get enough time to go through your
progressions and you know, see the play through. It definitely
(03:38):
creates challenges and makes it hard to play the position
for sure.
Speaker 5 (03:42):
Well, you also talked about what you guys did going
into the game simplify things a little bit. Now you
can't go back all the way to the simple basics.
But I like that attitude going in. But you guys
had a wrinkle that this team really doesn't use. It's
not really in that offense, but it's that wildcat and
(04:03):
that just gives you that extra blocker on the edge.
Takes a lot of a lot of pressure off of
you being the quarterback and running the ball as well
when you go to that wildcat.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Correct, Yeah, it does. You know, I couldn't figure out
why every time we ran wildcats they lined me up
at a wide receiver position and then ran the opposite direction.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
Okay, like when I was in.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
You know, I mean not just the wildcat at you know,
added wrinkle, but a guy by the name of Randall Cobb,
who you know at that time was a future pro bowler,
and he was a tremendous player and athlete. You know,
he obviously took control when he was in the wildcat
position and made a lot happen with his feet.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
We're talking with Will Fiddler here on the wildcat whip.
Will former Kentucky quarterback and was part of the Kentucky
upseid when at Auburn back in twenty oh nine, the
last time the Cats played against Auburn, and as Jeff said,
some situation or trying to snap a losing skid.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Auburn's got problems of its.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Own, but it was interesting you mentioned pulling together in
the locker room, and I got to think that was
a player generated kind of emotional moment.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
That's something that you know, coaches can't make you do that.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
It has to be genuine, has to be organic, if
you will, what do you recall about that?
Speaker 4 (05:24):
And then you know who pulled.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Things together and what that was like, you guys as
a team getting together and saying enough is enough, We're
tired of this losing.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Yeah, I mean it's it's uh. You know, somebody has
to emerge in the locker room as a leader in
times like that. And you know that beforehand, there was
a lot of turmoil that the fan base may not
have been aware of due to the call to start
Morgan Newton. And you know, you can question the reasons
and note all day long, but that was what had
(05:56):
to happen, and like what happened. And at a certain point,
you know, I stood up in front of the team
and said, hey, guys, you may not agree with the
game plan, but I can promise you we'll have a
zero chance of winning if we aren't all marching to
the beat of the same dramas, not all on that
game game plan. It may not be the best, but
let's get into the game and adapt and roll with it.
(06:17):
And we just decided, like I said, we decided before
that game ever started that we were going to win.
We're going to do whatever it takes to win. And
you know, I think the team took on that identity
after that and went on to win some other some
other big teams Georgia, you know, and had a somewhat
successful rest of the season, and.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Not only Georgia, Georgia at Georgia, which brings me to
my next question. You were at Auburn when you got
that win. And Jeff has told us before that there are.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
Advantages to playing on the road.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
You can tune out the crowd, you can make them
sit down by taking an early lead. But you've got
that we're all in this together thing, Fewer distractions. You know,
you're you're at the hotel, you're meeting, you're eating together.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Did that help you at Auburn? I got to think
it did a little bit.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Yeah, absolutely, you know, bringing back a lot of good
memories about that weekend, and it is helpful whenever you
you know, everybody you get on the airplane, you fly
down there, you're all one cohesive unit from midday Friday
through the end of the game. And I think that's
that definitely helps. You know, there's no easy you know,
there are a lot of challenging environments on the road
(07:26):
in the SEC, and Auburn is certainly one of them.
But if you can quiet the crowd take control of
the game, you know, I think that that can help.
And I think Kentucky's showing the ability to win on
the road, so that gives me a lot of hope
on this weekend.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
This podcast is presented by District seven Social located in
the heart of the Distillery District in Lexington. D seven
is not just a place to eat, but also a
social hall, a gathering spot, and a source of entertainment
suitable for any celebration, including a UK game. Make sure
to stop by D seven on game day or after wards.
They'll be saving this seat for you.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Well, Jeff and I were both there with a radio
network obviously, and I remember sitting on the bench during
beginning to wrap up show and they took the scoreboard
down instantly as soon as the game was over, they
cut power to the scoreboard. So I'm like asking Jeff
and dumb what was that score again? Yeah, I knew,
I knew Kentucky had won. But that's all part of
(08:25):
the fun of winning on the road.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
Isn't it.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Yeah, absolutely, And they were not happy. And I remember
we were we were playing against another you know, the
quarterback for Auburn was Chris Todd from Elizabeth Towns. An
even sweeter victory.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
Yeah, yeah, you know will I and I.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Also remember it being about forty five degrees. Well, so
after halftime, so it was it was a challenge to
stay warm the entire first half of the game.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
You know.
Speaker 5 (08:53):
Will You mentioned having a players only meeting and stuff,
And that's one thing I tell these guys all the
time is at this point in the season, I mean,
this is a must win situation. If they are going
to go to a bowl game this year, they have
to win this game because they've got two really tough
contests in Tennessee and Texas on the road, and then
(09:13):
they have Louisville as well. This is a must win.
Speaker 4 (09:17):
And one thing you.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
And I tell them this all the time because they say, look,
they're really getting up on the field, And I said,
if you're not amped up before you walk out on
the field, there's no coach can't do anything to get
you there. It has to be the upper classmen and
the leaders of the team that pull these guys together.
You have a player's only meeting, or you have the
guys at each of the different positions who are upper classmen,
(09:43):
and they kind of take control. They become that a
secondary coach, if you will, or another coach on the field.
But it can't come Saturday morning. It has to be
there through the week.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Yeah, I totally agree, you know you either. I mean
a lot of times you can tell how they aim
on Saturday is going to go by how the practices
go on Tuesday and Wednesday and the walkthrough, and you
can you can sense the focus, the intensity and intentionality
of every team member early in the week. And I
(10:14):
remember that week before that came, the entire offense and
defense is very dialed in. So that's that's exactly right,
and that that comes from the players. That comes from
the upper classmen. Uh, the coaches, you know, they set
the standards, they set the minimum standard, and then it's
up to the upper classmen and the players to really
drive that home through the rest of the team.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Talking to Will Fiddler, he's filling in for Tom Leech
here on the Wildcat Whip. Will, of course a former
UK quarterback Henderson County High School, a Western Kentucky guy.
And we we've watched Will, and I know you've kept
an eye on your beloved wildcast, But watching this program
since Drew Barker was injured, there's been this revolving door
(10:55):
and some have been successful, some not so much. Of
transfer junior college kids who came through the portal to
play quarterback, and it's got to be difficult, I would think,
to try to maintain a culture, if you will, for
a college football team when you can't settle on a
(11:16):
quarterback who's there for more than a year or two.
Speaker 4 (11:19):
Am I right?
Speaker 3 (11:21):
I completely agree. But you know, whether it be fortunately
or unfortunately, isn't that the state of college football?
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (11:32):
True? Yeah, you know.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
Talking with the Kentucky's offensive line coach this week, he
brought up a great point. He said, somebody asked about
one of the youngsters, Richard freshman Abaselm. They said, you
know when we see him more, and he goes, well,
let me tell you. He's been working out, He's doing
everything we're asking. He's getting bigger, he's getting stronger. And
he said, but you know the same thing in Alabama. Yeah,
(11:57):
you don't see many freshmen getting in there and playing
in the SEC. He goes to me, it takes two
years for me to take this kid coming out of
high school and form the clay that I get and
form him into an SEC lineman two years. And I
kind of believe that's kind of the same with a quarterback. Now,
a quarterback, you can have a guy that runs around
(12:17):
back there like a Johnny Manziel or something like that,
but a quarterback that's going to be a cerebral guy
behind center, reading defenses and stuff. It takes more than
a year. And the other problem I see with this
is the cohesiveness that they don't have by going offensive
coordinator to offensive coordinator to offensive coordinator year after year
after year.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
I think that certainly presents a lot of challenge. I mean,
it takes a you know, at least a full season
and maybe two rounds of spring practice to really get
comfortable with it with a new offensive coordinator and an
offensive package. And when you're changing year over year like that,
it adds a lot of challenge and it creates a
(13:01):
lot of confusion, and it certainly, you know, I think
that has as much to do with the cultural aspect
of things. When the starting quarterback is who's at the
offensive coordinator position? And is it a stable situation and
is everybody familiar enough with the offense to where you know,
they could go out and teach it to the younger
classman as they're coming in. And whenever it changes every
(13:22):
year or every two years, that's extremely difficult.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
That's got to add.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
To use your word, to the confusion about this Kentucky team,
which plays brilliantly at Ole.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Miss pulls off the upset.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
If it weren't for the Georgia Alabama game, that's the
headline game of the day and the week prior, could
have maybe should have beaten Georgia itself, and then turns
around a lais an egg against Vandy with a flurry
of penalties and is blown off the ball by Florida.
It's a real head scratching kind of season, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
It is, you know, and I think it one it
goes to show the strength of the SEC, and too,
I think it goes to show that that that's what's
you know. In a way, Yes, it's challenging for the
Kentucky football program, but it is what's so special about
college football, is it? Any team can beat any other team?
Speaker 5 (14:11):
Yeah, you know, well, I think that Texas and In's
former coach Shimbo Fisher said it best when before, when
all this was starting to happen, somebody said something about
Texas and Texas and Oklahoma company the SEC. He said, boys,
you better worry about what you're wishing for because this
is this is totally different and and to your point.
(14:33):
Will look at Oklahoma. I mean, this is a proud program.
They're getting annihilated in the SEC. Their games aren't close.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Yeah, that's a that's a warm and friendly SEC.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
Welcoming well, Georgia, welcome Texas.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Yes, yeah, you know, I mean, I mean, why didn't
we see that coming. Here's a traditional Big twelve power
against the traditional SEC power.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
But like you said, anything can happen.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
You're gonna give me Kirby Smart and a three what
a two time national championship that's lost three games in
three years. You're gonna be five points on the road.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
I'll take that all day, all three games to Alabama.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Yes, yeah, Well, and you want to talk about some
quarterbacks who were worried about their pass protection. I mean
those guys they were rattled both of when you Weres
and harsh manning work. They were struggling from the get go.
And I'm not gonna lie. I would be lying if
I didn't say I took some pleasure and watching that.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
You were one of the few people on this planet
who knows what it's like to have Do you feel
like you said earlier? Linebackers, edge rushers, dns closing in
on you and trying to keep.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Your eyes down the field.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
So as we wrap this up, will tell us what
do you think might happen? What do you think needs
to happen Saturday night when Kentucky plays an Auburn team
with talent but a quarterback situation that's unsettled and a
team that's been killing itself with turnovers.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
Well, I think, you know, like we talked about earlier,
there needs to be some some leadership in the locker
room among the players. Somebody needs to stand up in
front of the team and you know, kind of rally
the troops, get everybody together and make the team decision
that they're going to go out and win this game.
They're going to course correct the rest of their season.
(16:23):
You know, have a better chance of getting Bowl eligible
and you can get things going on the right track,
because you know, I think we're at not just a
pivotal point in the season, but it's a pivotal point
in the program and there's a bit of a where
do we go from here? Type feeling?
Speaker 4 (16:35):
So yeah, you know, I.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Think going out using the talents that they have, coming
up with an offensive strategy and sticking to it. You know,
even if it doesn't work every single drive establishing their
identity and going out and just deciding they're going to
win the game.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Well Fiddler, former Kentucky quarterback, one of three qbs to
score a touchdown and the episode went over Auburn back
in twenty oh nine.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
Failing into Tommys. She did a great job. I appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Thanks Jack, Thanks Jeff, I appreciate you guys. Invite me
on the show.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
And now I'll do it for the Wildcat Whip Jeff
picorl Tom Lee and have since you again. Our thanks
to Will Fiddler and we hope to see you at
the stadium Saturday night.
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