[IMG]http://www.nationofblue.com/content/attachments/2935d1286639132-auburn.jpg[/IMG]
This game is a “really-need-to-win” for Kentucky on several levels (not quite a “must-win”, but close). Not only because our own Scott Anderson is trying to perfect his chili recipe to be a lock for Iron Chef and Paula Dean’s Home Cooking, but because of what it means to the visiting recruits, Kentucky’s bowl hopes, and precedent for the first home SEC game.
As far as the visiting recruits, at last count there were eight young men expected to visit for this game:
[table]
[tr]
[td]Name[/td]
[td]Position[/td]
[td]Class[/td]
[td]Hometown[/td]
[td]Source[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Steven Daniels[/td]
[td]ILB[/td]
[td]2011[/td]
[td]Cincinnati, OH[/td]
[td]KentuckySportsRadio.com[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Travis Elliott[/td]
[td]RB, LB[/td]
[td]2012[/td]
[td]Union, KY[/td]
[td]NationOfBlue.com[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Michael Fluellen[/td]
[td]WR[/td]
[td]2011[/td]
[td]Louisville, KY[/td]
[td]NationOfBlue.com[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Collins Moore[/td]
[td]WR[/td]
[td]2011[/td]
[td]Madison, AL[/td]
[td]BleedBlueKentucky.com[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Tyrone Pearson[/td]
[td]DT[/td]
[td]2012[/td]
[td]Louisville, KY[/td]
[td]NationOfBlue.com[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Daniel Ross[/td]
[td]DE[/td]
[td]2012[/td]
[td]Jeffersontown, KY[/td]
[td]NationOfBlue.com[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Keith Thielemann[/td]
[td]DT[/td]
[td]2012[/td]
[td]Parksville, KY[/td]
[td]WildcatRecruits.com[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]John White[/td]
[td]RB[/td]
[td]2012[/td]
[td]Wilmington, CA[/td]
[td]BleedBlueKentucky.com[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]
Granted, a win will not ensure that they all commit to UK any more than a loss will ensure that they commit elsewhere, but this may be their only opportunity to watch the coaches and players up close in a game environment. It could make or break any of their decisions.
As far as Kentucky’s season, UK is currently 3-2. We need to have 3 more wins to be considered for a bowl, and 4 more wins would ensure a decent bowl. Looking at the upcoming schedule, the only probable win is Charleston Southern (although our chances against Georgia and Vandy are pretty good). Mississippi State is not playing very well this year, but we play them in Starkville, which gives them the edge. If Kentucky loses to Auburn, then Mississippi State becomes a “must-win”, and you don’t want that late in the season. A win against Auburn would not only give UK some breathing room in the schedule, but would get Joker’s “Operation: Win” back from being just a nice slogan.
As for this being UK’s 1st SEC home game, the first home game sets precedent for the year just like the last home game is the one you have to live with for the entire off-season. If we lose this, does that mean Kentucky will lose all home games this year? No, of course not, but each home game you lose puts you further behind the 8-ball as far as attitude and outlook. If you lose the first home game, the optimism dies a little for the second. If you lose the second, the optimism dies a little more for the third. Luckily, UK has plenty of home games this year, but a win on the first one would be nice.
[IMG]http://www.nationofblue.com/content/attachments/2934d1286638992-operationwin.jpg[/IMG]
