First Up...the Mighty Mighty Skyhawks!

As you, my loyal and devoted reader, enjoy this insightful post, we sit less than 48 hours from kickoff of the 2014 Wildcat football season. Once you’ve finished reading, you have my full authorization to head on over to Commonwealth to initiate tailgating festivities. Your boss/teacher/spouse/probation officer (Louisville guests) told me it would be fine.  Each Thursday evening of this football season, we will delve into the match-up with Kentucky’s upcoming opponent.  This week, on the eve of year two of the Mark Stoops era, we preview Kentucky’s first ever football tilt with the legendary UT Martin Skyhawks. So what do we know about these guys?  I did a little research to find out.

Skyhawks was a 17 episode television cartoon series sponsored by Mattel that aired from 1969 to 1971.  As it type that sentence, it occurs to me that this information is likely not pertinent to Saturday’s game.  You win this round, Wikipedia.   Looking a bit further, I ultimately found the UT Martin athletics official site, and managed to uncover a few interesting tidbits for Cat fans to consider when heading to the game this weekend.   First, UT Martin is an FCS program (Division 1AA for old timers) competing in the Ohio Valley Conference.  The Skyhawks are historically a mediocre program even by the standards of the lower tier of college football, but have experienced some degree of success under current coach Jason Simpson, who has compiled a 52-39 record in his 8 years at the helm. The Skyhawks finished 7-5 in 2013, but lost convincingly on both occasions in which they faced FBS opponents.  Boise State bludgeoned the Skyhawks 63-14 and the atrocious Memphis Tigers beat them 21-6.  Both results bode well for the Wildcats’ chances on Saturday.

In addition to relative program history, comparative physical size favors the Cats in this match-up as well.  It is a rare Saturday that finds the Cats fielding the more physically imposing roster, but such is the case this weekend.  Specifically, UT Martin projects to start two offensive guards who weigh under 250 pounds.  At 6-1 and 230 pounds, starting right guard Kenneth Crenshaw is four inches shorter and eight pounds lighter that  Kentucky quarterback Patrick Towles. There is a reasonably decent chance that at some point in Saturday’s game, Crenshaw will attempt to block Matt Elam, who outweighs the diminutive Crenshaw by 145 pounds, or roughly one TV Williams.  That play alone will be worth the price of admission.  The size differential is not limited to when the Cats are on defense.  The Skyhawk defensive line averages only 260 pounds, and will be out-girthed by 44 pounds per man by the Kentucky offensive line. This should give both Patrick Towles and the deep stable of Wildcat tailbacks ample room in which to operate.

The size factor is only one example of a larger point.  For one of very few occasions during Mark Stoops’ rebuilding process, Kentucky simply has far better football players than its opponent.  Only Skyhawk linebacker Tony Bell, an FCS All American in 2013, would likely see the field for the Cats.  Kentucky should roll on Saturday.  I’m going with 45 -7.  And if you don’t enjoy the new stadium music, don’t blame me.  I voted for ‘Lil Scrappy.