[EKUAlum05]

The fumbles are disappointing and concerning. Especially the unforced ones. The First Half penalties are more irritating than anything,

With that said, if we isolate those things I actually feel pretty good with what I saw in retrospect.

That is a REALLY good football team that beat Belfry.

Despite turnovers and fumbles costing them yardage Belfry went for over 320 rushing yards and converted First Downs at an alarming rate. Had the Hunter run not gotten flagged for a penalty that was unnecessary to the play (the replay on the broadcast showed it was 100% the correct call, but that it happened once Hunter had cleared the block)..we are talking about 4 TD's and 400 rushing yards against one of the Top 3 teams in Tennessee regardless of class.

The big olays to Rodgers I just have to write off. There is no receiver in Kentucky as talented as him and the only QB's who could even make those perfect deep throws Belfry will never have to face (Walker Wood, Clark Payne, Tanner Morgan). Belfry also will not see an Oline like that with 3 4* players protecting the QB.

Does the loss suck? Yes.. for selfish reasons I wanted this game for the legacy of these Seniors. Does the way Belfry lost raise concern? Absolutely... when you fumble 9 times (and had no less than 5 other snaps or exchanges that were nearly fumbles) then you need to improve.

I still have to look at the silver lining though and say...that even with Belfry playing for all rights mind numbingly bad,,, they still made an elite level team look silly at times when they did play well.

Back to drawing board and no rest for the weary against a team who stomped them last year.