Kentucky Kernel: October 14, 2021

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Thursday, October 14, 2021

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Looking ahead to Kentucky vs. Georgia | 13

Thursday, October 14, 2021

news

Tree plantings, tree walks at Lexington’s fourth annual Tree Week

By Elijah Hendricks news@kykernel.com

This week, Lexington’s fourth annual Tree Week aims to protect, cultivate, celebrate and enjoy the ecological and health benefits of trees. On Saturday, Oct. 9, a tree planting at Bryan Station kicked off the week’s events.

To make the event accessible to the public, Friends of the Parks, a 501c (3), non-profit for the beautification of local parks and playgrounds, planted 250 sixfoot, one-inch diameter trees in three-gallon pots to make it easy for any volunteer to come in and plant a tree. The event lasted from 9 a.m. to noon and was the first of six tree plantings this week.

Sandy Shafer, a representative for Friends of the Parks, said she hopes one day to create a tree canopy that will stretch across

both the rural and urban areas of Lexington, both beautifying the city and decreasing its carbon footprint.

“This footprint, here in this greenway, backs up to I-75 with housing on the other side. It will provide a buffer for those that live here and this greenway,” Shafer said. “Instead of being an overlooked area, it will be an ecosystem that will support wildlife and complement the area rather than be an overgrown area that can’t be accessed.”

Just a few minutes down the road at 419 East 7th Street, Tree Week continued with an event hosted by Dr. Mark Coyne, a professor of soil microbiology at UK, and Robert Paratley, the University Herbarium’s curator.

Coyne and Paratley conducted Tree Walks at African American Cemetery No. 2. Coyne gave in-

formation about the more than 148 trees currently in the cemetery, including the 100 added in 2017. Paratley guided attendees around the area, showing them different trees and drawing attention to the people buried near them.

Coyne said the trees help with the local water supply and are a buffer between potentially harmful substances from the nearby junkyard and the housing developments in the area. Coyne added that the trees provided a habitat for local wildlife. He said he would like students to walk away knowing what trees do for the environment and that tree identification is a useful skill.

Coyne compared the cemetery to a smaller arboretum. He spoke to the students in the Agriculture, Food and Environment College in particular about how to turn

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You do it by maintenance, you do it by maintaining a habitat, you do it by putting in trees for the benefits they have.

- Mark Coyne an urban area into a place that benefits both the people and the environment.

“You do it by maintenance, you do it by maintaining a habitat, you do it by putting in trees for the benefits they have,” he said.

Tree Week continues through Oct. 16 and will include the Lex-

ington Cemetery Conifers Walk on Wednesday, Oct. 13, The Kentucky Maple Syrup Project on Thursday, Oct. 14, a tree planting at Greenhouse 17 on Friday, Oct. 15, and Woodlands in the Bluegrass on Saturday, Oct. 16. For more information about these and other upcoming Tree Week events visit ufi.ca.uky.edu.

Thursday, October 14, 2021

Humans of UK:

kentuckykernel

JR Dickerson has big dreams for his future

By Corrie McCrosky news@kykernel.com

This is Humans of UK, inspired by the Humans of New York Instagram series by photographer and author Brandon Stanton. This series dives into the individuals of UK as well as their stories, strifes and passions.

Born and raised in Winchester, Kentucky, UK Dining employee JR Dickerson graduated from UK in 2008 with degrees in architecture and anthropology. He has yet to work within these fields, but he says that once he is financially stable, he will pursue a master’s or doctorate degree.

“The money is the big thing with getting a master’s or a doctorate at any university,” Dickerson said. “With no money, that’s out of the picture right now. For now, I’m going to stay where I’m at, and that’s with UK Dining.”

When it is feasible to earn a new degree, Dickerson said that his dream job would be a career as a professor. He said he would enjoy teaching classes, getting tenure and having the opportunity to travel overseas.

CORRIE MCCROSKY | STAFF JR Dickerson poses for a photo on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2021, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.

Outside of working at UK’s ONE Community Café, Dickerson has many passions including traveling, fishing, hunting and playing the guitar. He has played guitar in a gospel band for the past 25 years, performing shows in Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio and West Virginia.

He said the experience of playing live is “different than anything else.”

“You’re going to be bashful and everything when you first get going, you know if you’ve ever talked in front of anybody

and you get nervous … but that’ll eventually go away, and you’re up there playing music,” Dickerson said. “If things get going right, and if you are right with the good Lord, then you will feel him.”

In addition to playing in his band, Dickerson enjoys exploring and has been to both Egypt and Amsterdam. He has plans to travel to many more countries including Israel, where he hopes to find the Ark of the Covenant, the biblical relic said to contain the Ten Com-

mandments.

“Ever since [I was] about five or six years old, when … ‘Raiders of The Lost Ark’ came out, that’s when I knew exactly what I wanted to do … I wanted to find the Ark of the Covenant,” Dickerson said.

“I’ve done research for almost 30 years on it.”

Dickerson said he has information on where the Ark is located, plus a team of people behind him to help find it.

“I have contacts here all the way back to Israel with archaeologists, probably about 15 or 20 of them,” Dickerson said.

“We talk back and forth.”

Dickerson also believes the discovery could bring dire consequences.

“The best place for it would be in a museum.

With some things, it’s better off not to find, because of what it will bring,” Dickerson said. “If it’s found at the right time, right place, it could bring about the end of the world.”

For now, he continues to research and study in his free time but is content with his position as a dining worker.

“I like most of the students. Of course, I see a whole bunch of them.

They’re pretty good to us,” Dickerson said.

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KENTUCKY KERNEL OFFICES 340 McVey Hall University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506

On the front cover:

JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky players celebrate during the No. 16 University of Kentucky vs. LSU game on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky. UK won 42-21.

On the back cover:

JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky quarterback Will Levis (7) runs the ball during the No. 16 University of Kentucky vs. LSU game on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.

fall 2021 | 3

Thursday, October 14, 2021

news

‘A playful place.’

AMANDA BRAMAN | STAFF “Coloring,” the new art installation at the UK Art Museum, is displayed on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, at the Otis A. Singletary Center for the Arts in Lexington, Kentucky.

By Ryan Brokamp news@kykernel.com

“Coloring,” the latest installation at the UK Art Museum, contains several artworks that spotlight color, and museum curators hope the exhibit will revitalize the experience of viewing art in person.

The arrangement is composed of paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures from artists of varied traditions and eras.

Although much of the collection reflects the abstract characteristics of modern art, each piece has distinctive shapes, dimensions and scales. Viewers are presented with an assortment of artistic disciplines, hard geometries, lush atmospheres, creatively-applied paint techniques and manipulations of scale.

This experience comes as no surprise to UK Art Museum Director Stuart Horodner, who organized the exhibit alongside curator Janie Welker. While the pandemic led many art institutions, including the UK Art

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Museum, to implement virtual museum content, Horodner said viewing art on a screen is devoid of interaction.

“It’s kind of just information,” he said.

“This is the painting [and] what it looks like, this is the color, this is the gesture, this is who made it.”

However, when standing in front of a painting bigger than oneself or a sculpture that is smaller, Horodner said people respond with their eyes and body. This physical response is what separates pandemic art admiration with the experiences available today.

“Your engagement with [art] is totally different than just what the screen gives you,” Horodner said. “For people who love museums and people who also love feeling like the world is a tangible reality, there is nothing like coming to a physical space.”

The diversity of shapes and scales in “Coloring” is one of the most apparent aspects of the new exhibition, made possible by the wide range of contributing artists.

UK Art Museum opens new art installation

Most of the artwork in “Coloring” was selected from the roughly 5,000 pieces that exist in the University of Kentucky’s art collection. Horodner and his team worked with local artists and collectors to bring the most rewarding experience to University of Kentucky Art Museum patrons. He said the collaboration created a “dialogue between things that we own [and] things that we don’t own.”

This dialogue has led to opportunities for younger artists to have their work presented in context with more established figures. “Coloring” is supplemented by a neighboring installment of “Temple Days,” an exhibit that Horodner said was “selected as an antidote to how colorful this main show is.”

“Temple Days” brings together the work of artists Avantika Bawa and May Tveit. Both artists utilize prints, paintings and sculptures to convey their expressions.

Following her most recent installation of pink scaffolding in a salt desert, Bawa uses

“Temple Days” to continue that piece’s themes of presence and absence on a smaller scale, using a 3D printer to create miniature shapes.

Tveit creates her prints by pressing graphite-covered cardboard to a canvas to create shapes. Horodner described Tveit’s pieces as “otherworldly,” “resembling religious icons” and “geometrically hypnotic.”

These exhibits marked the first time since the pandemic that artists could come to the museum and personally install their work. Horodner said that combining artworks from a wide scope of artists allows the museum to “take part in research, ideas and experimentation.”

“We love that the museum can be not a serious place, but a playful place,” he said.

“Coloring” and “Temple Days” will be on display at the University of Kentucky Art Museum, located in the Singletary Center, until Dec. 11 and will remain free to the public.

Thursday, October 14, 2021

UK Smash Cats club hosts ‘Super Smash Bros.’ tournament series

By Ryan Whitt news@kykernel.com

Over the past several years, the University of Kentucky has grown increasingly involved with esports, a subgenre of sports reserved for video games like “Call of Duty,” “League of Legends” and “Super Smash Bros.”

One of the ways the university has done this is by sponsoring clubs like the UK Smash Cats Club, which hosts events where UK and BCTC students can compete with each other in games in the “Super Smash Bros” series.

On Sept. 18, the club hosted its sixth “Across the Glen” event, one of several recurring tournaments. The tournament was sponsored in part by the Engineering Living Learning Program at Woodland Glen III, which gave the club access to two classrooms on the first floor for the event.

In addition, the LLP provided free pizza for all attendees.

The event was open to all UK and BCTC students. It was one of the largest tournament turnouts the Smash Cats have had, with 47 people registered as players.

This is partially due to the tournament having no entry fee, unlike other tournaments the Smash Cats host.

Smash Cats events are run by club officers who act as tournament organizers (TOs). Taet Sanders, a sophomore pre-management major and Smash Cats treasurer, said he didn’t think anyone had experience as TOs before the event series.

“Last week we had a lot of problems with registration. We had some people who paid who didn’t get into the bracket,” Sanders said. “We met up the next day, talked about what went wrong, and the next week it went very smoothly. We are learning as we go, but I think it’s been mostly a success.”

The experience has been pretty amazing, actually. Competing has given me many opportunities to travel and meet new people and is how I have met some of my closest friends.

- Isaac Oropeza The Smash Cats club has grown significantly in the last year. In September, they surpassed 50 attendees at one of their weekly tournaments, meeting the 50-person requirement to appear on the esports organization PGStats’ weekly tournament tracker for large scale “Super Smash Bros” tournaments.

The Cornerstone complex, which opened in spring 2021, has significantly contributed to this recent success. Sanders said that the complex, which contains the UK esports lounge, a variety of restaurants and a 100-seat theater for events and classes, has provided a convenient meeting place.

“Over the last year, where there were a lot of restrictions on who could go over to what dorm and who could play with who, The Cornerstone was a common space where we could go without worrying about getting in trouble,” Sanders said. “A lot of the employees are always talking to people about different tournaments and events going on and getting people involved who come by.”

The club’s growth is just beginning, said UK sophomore Mitchell LaTonzea,

Smash Cats social media manager.

“On our Discord, we have several hundred former students, current students, and we are trying to expand into Twitter and other media,” LaTonzea said.

The top eight finalists of “Across the Glen VI’’ were LaTonzea, Ian Mottaleb, Anthony Lopez, Zach Cox, Aidan Perell, Chas Pemberson and Ricardo Mendoza.

UK sophomore psychology major Isaac Oropeza was the winner of the event.

Oropeza has been playing for five years, beginning at a weekly tournament in Newport, Kentucky.

“The experience has been pretty amazing, actually,” Oropeza said. “Competing has given me many opportunities to travel and meet new people and is how I have met some of my closest friends.”

These players come from various backgrounds, majors and lifestyles, but they’ve all found a place competing in this game.

Anthony Lopez, a UK computer science major, said “Super Smash Bros” has been one of his favorite games for about a decade.

“I was at a Gamestop, and in this bargain bin there was this game with Pika-

chu and a Pokémon Trainer on the front of it called ‘Super Smash Bros: Brawl.’ I only knew of the Pokémon series at the time, but it was enough to get me into the game,” Lopez said. “It doesn’t matter if the character you play is bad or low tier, but simply having a personal connection with that character makes winning and improving all the more worth it.”

Despite being a competitive group, the Smash Cats try to remain accessible to newcomers and casual players. At Across the Glen, for example, the club played “Star Wars” on a projector in a nearby classroom to foster community between players and provide a space for players to relax between matches. However, the room was seldom used.

For many, Across the Glen was their first experience at a tournament. Cole Craig and his friends came together as newcomers.

“I expected two or three sweaty tryhards that never went outside, and everyone else were people who never played before,” said Cole Craig. “None of these guys were sweaty or gross; they’re just swag people.”

The Smash Cats host a weekly tournament called “Don’t Get Tilted” at the Cornerstone on South Limestone on Mondays at 6 p.m. For those looking for something more casual, they have also partnered with the esports club for monthly casual game nights.

As a part of the Eastern College Athletic Conference’s esports league, the Smash Cats will be participating in “Super Smash Bros Ultimate” “Crew battles.” Colleges will send teams of three to play against each other in consecutive matches, with nine lives total (three per player). This online tournament series will take place every Monday night at 8 p.m. from Sept.

27 until Nov. 15, with playoffs from Nov. 29 to Dec. 10.

fall 2021 | 5

Thursday, October 14, 2021

news

Race time in the Bluegrass:

Keeneland Fall Meet 2021 opens

By Sophia Shoemaker news@kykernel.com

Visiting Keeneland in the fall has been a Lexington tradition for years. After last fall’s meet had limited participants due to the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors were ready to return to a sense of normalcy at the beloved horse racing track.

Keeneland’s Fall Race Meet opened on Friday, Oct. 8. The facility was planning to run at full capacity back in July, but Keeneland more recently announced that it would be capped at 20,000 participants.

General admission tickets were sold out by the beginning of the week.

“I try to come back for a game and a day at the races every year, but of course I missed opening day last year,” said University of Kentucky alumnus John Hendrick, who visited Lexington for the weekend for Saturday’s football game against LSU and the Keeneland Fall Meet. “The time away made all the difference, and I am excited to be back in this environment. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder.”

Despite COVID-19 still being a threat and opening day tickets being sold out, guests were not required to wear masks, including while indoors.

The meet drew horse racing fans from not only Kentucky but all over the country.

Many fans from Louisiana that had travelled for Saturday’s football game flooded the track in their best purple and gold attire.

“I have been to Evangeline Downs back home in Louisiana, but it doesn’t hold a candle to this place. I am so amazed by the scale of this,” LSU fan Brenda Gremillion said, who visited Keeneland for the first time on Friday.

Like many Lexington traditions, the Keeneland Fall Meet is an event that some UK students got to experience for the first

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SILAS WALKER | LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER Patrons hold up phones and watch as horses cross the finish line in an undercard race during the opening day of Keeneland’s Fall Meet in Lexington, Kentucky on Oct. 8, 2021.

time as they are becoming familiar with the culture of Lexington. Lily Wood, a sophomore from New Jersey, was able to score a general admission ticket before they sold out so that she could be a part of the opening day experience.

“I’m not quite sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this,” Wood said. “There are so many people, and everyone is so excited to be here placing bets and watching the races. It is just a really cool atmosphere.”

General admission tickets were also sold out on Sunday, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 16, making this Fall Meet a busy one after the limited capacity races in the fall of last year.

The tradition of Keeneland is a strong one. It has survived in the face of adversity that is the COVID-19 pandemic, and many credit that survival to the guests at the race track. George Miller, a Keeneland employee for seven years, said Keeneland’s patrons bring him back every season.

“People come from all over the country to see this happen twice a year. There is nothing like it,” Miller said. “You know what they say: there’s no place like home, and Keeneland is mine.”

Keeneland is open for the fall meet Oct. 8 to Oct. 30, holding races Wednesday through Sunday. The opening day for the spring meet is April 2, and it closes April 23. General admission tickets for the fall can be purchased online or at the venue for $7.

Thursday, October 14, 2021

State Street:

opinions

Should the tradition continue?

By Audrey Fones opinions@kykernel.com

University of Kentucky fans are notorious for burning couches on State Street.

On Oct. 2, Kentucky football upset Florida in a 20-13 victory to remain undefeated.

The destructive tradition of State Street lived on that night.

This tradition can be traced back to 1978, when the UK basketball team won the NCAA national championship and fans flooded the airport to welcome them home.

In a previous article from the Kentucky Kernel, the Bluegrass Airport manager said that the majority of the fans were just happy and celebrating the win; however, some fans became destructive. They ripped telephones off of the wall, broke into display cases, and footprints were found eight feet up on the walls of the terminal.

Again, in 1998, the UK basketball team won the NCAA basketball championship and fans stormed the junction of Woodland and Euclid Avenues.

In 2018, UK fans flipped a car during the celebration on State Street after UK football beat Florida. Based on the reaction from UK officials, one might think that was the first time that it happened. There was an investigation into who flipped the car, and a GoFundMe was started to replace the vehicle. However, during March Madness in 2012, five cars were reportedly flipped and vandalized during a celebration on State Street. This also happened in 1996 after the UK basketball team beat Syracuse.

Something notable in the past few years is the abundance of SWAT officers present during the burning of couches and flipping of cars. Scrolling through social media the day after, one will often see plenty of pictures of SWAT officers alongside the students.

I like to think back to the Black Lives Matter movement, which, granted, had a completely different meaning and purpose but still saw police officers deployed to

JACK WEAVER | STAFF A group of UK students poses for a photo with a Lexington police officer during a student celebration after Kentucky football defeated No. 10 Florida on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, on Crescent Avenue in Lexington, Kentucky.

control crowds. Is it okay for SWAT officers to throw tear gas at people fighting peacefully for their civil rights as human beings? This question is especially pressing considering that SWAT officers partook in photoshoots with students as they flipped cars and burned couches.

Now let’s consider the Black Lives Matter movements that led to people vandalizing property. How is it okay for these people to have tear gas thrown at them or be arrested while students share a good laugh with SWAT officers on State Street committing their own vandalization for

fun?

Like I said, these two events have different purposes. One is in good fun, and the other is a movement to fight for civil rights in the community. If you take the meaning behind each movement out of the equation, there is no difference between the two, besides only one of the groups being able to party with the police.

The State Street tradition is an exciting experience for students, and when no one is getting hurt, I don’t think we should stop it. But if no one is getting hurt in a march for civil rights, we shouldn’t stop

that either. I think it’s important to think about why the SWAT team is taking a more mellow response to student vandalism and arresting or throwing tear gas at peaceful protestors.

Is there a double standard for what type of vandalism is allowed in the eyes of the SWAT team? When students are able to spray beer at officers when the officers are attempting to get some space, it’s hard not to question the standards of the police officers. I don’t recall officers taking photos with protestors while they fought for their civil rights.

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Thursday, October 14, 2021

Basketball Shots PHOTOS BY JACK WEAVER

It’s almost time for basketball in the Bluegrass. Kentucky basketball held an open practice for media and NBA scouts ahead of their 202122 season. The Cats will be back in Rupp Arena for Big Blue Madness this Friday.

Kentucky forward Brennan Canada (14) shoots the ball during a practice on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.

On the top left: Kentucky guard Dontaie Allen (11) plays defense while Kentucky guard Kareem Watkins (25) dribbles the ball during a practice on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, at Rupp Arena.

On the bottom left: Kentucky guard Kellan Grady (31) dribbles the ball during a practice on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, at Rupp Arena.

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Thursday, October 14, 2021

Kentucky head coach John Calipari talks to his team during a practice on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, at Rupp Arena.

Kentucky forward Oscar Tshiebwe (34) dunks the ball during a practice on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, at Rupp Arena.

Kentucky players run full court sprints during a practice on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, at Rupp Arena.

Kentucky forward Oscar Tshiebwe (34) passes the ball to Kentucky guard Kellan Grady (31) during a practice on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, at Rupp Arena.

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Thursday, October 14, 2021

sports

UK wins first rifle meet of the season over Morehead State

By Barkley Truax sports@kykernel.com

The reigning National Champion Kentucky rifle team started out their 202122 season with a victory over Morehead State 4680-4658 last Saturday.

Kentucky posted a score of 2330 in smallbore and 2350 in air rifle led by senior Richard Clark’s 586 in smallbore and 590 in air rifle for an aggregate of 1176 — finishing first in small bore and third in air rifle. Junior Jaden Thompson also had an impressive start to her season with a score of 585 in smallbore and 587 in air rifle for a 1172 aggregate — good enough for her to finish second in air rifle. Junior Emmie Sellers finished with an aggregate score of 1167 with a 581 in smallbore and 586 in air rifle. Seniors Mitchell Nelson and Mason Hamilton earned a 1165 and 1163 aggregate, respectively.

Morehead State shot a 2296 in smallbore and 2362 in air rifle led by Bryce Ward’s 582 in smallbore and 592 in air rifle for an aggregate of 1174. Fellow Eagle Erin Diehl scored a 574 in smallbore and 592 in air rifle for a 1166 total.

“Overall, not a bad day today,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “I think we saw some good things, but obvious-

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ly there are things we need to work on.

We’ve got to get better at our decision making and executing some shots down the stretch. I think we showed a lot of promise with where we are at, but the numbers are obviously lower than what we are used to shooting. We have the talent to iron things out and get the numbers where we want them to be when we get back in action later this month against Navy.”

Three newcomers had standout performances in their first competition as Wildcats, too. Allison Buesseler scored an 1160 aggregate (576 in smallbore, 584 in air rifle). Tori Kopelen scored a 576 in smallbore and 580 in air rifle, and Kayla Kalenza totaled a 563 in smallbore and 578 in air rifle for an 1141 aggregate.

“Overall, lots of potential, and I will take responsibility for us not being as sharp in air gun,” Mullins said. “I don’t think we were ready to shoot smallbore and air gun back-to-back in a match like that, but we will work on it and have it fixed moving forward.”

Kentucky will have the next two weeks off from competition before hitting the road for their second competition of the season against Navy on Oct. 30. Their first home competition is scheduled for Nov. 6 against Ole Miss.

UK ATHLETICS Mary Tucker poses for a portrait.

Thursday, October 14, 2021

sports

Across the (By)Line: Georgia Bulldogs

By Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com

The “Across the (By)Line” series will give Kentucky football fans an in-depth look at their opponent for this week — from the mind of the opposing school’s sports editor.

This week: Jack Duffey, The Red & Black, University of Georgia.

Who should Kentucky expect to see under center for Georgia on Saturday?

Duffey: That’s a tough question. Because you know, the right answer should be JT Daniels, but because of his gradeone lat strain and the nature of where he’s at, it’s more likely that Stetson Bennett is going to be the starter on Saturday. But depending on if JT feels like he can go, and the medical team says he’s cleared, then it will be JT, but otherwise I would expect Stetson.

Duffey: I would say yes, because Kirby Smart has preached all season that he and his team are treating every game like it’s a championship game. That’s the mentality that they’ve had this season. And that’s the mentality that’s been successful so far this season. They are not overlooking any opponents, and especially not Kentucky, being undefeated, coming into Georgia as a top 11 team. They are certainly looking out for the Wildcats. And I would say this is probably one of the most important games for them this season because it almost determines the fate of the SEC East. Because if Georgia loses, it becomes very difficult for them to win the SEC East. They need Kentucky to lose twice. So yes, I would say they’re looking at it as it’s very important.

What do you think the difference maker is going to be this Saturday?

Duffey: I think the difference maker

What is Georgia’s biggest weakness?

Duffey: From a fan’s perspective, at times, it does look like they’re unbeatable.

You try to look for holes on the roster, and you can’t really find any, especially on defense. I mean, the defense could end up being a historic college football defense.

But I think what could end up being a derailment for the Bulldogs is the fact that so many players, especially on offense, are injured. Like you see JT is injured. You have players like Dominic Blaylock, Aaron Smith, wide receivers. The past game against Auburn, Christopher Smith went out with an injury. So you kind of look at the durability of the Bulldogs’ roster and you wonder if they can get through the rest of this season unscathed.

Does this game mean as much to Georgia as it does Kentucky?

Kentucky

in this game will be whether or not the Georgia front seven can stop Chris Rodriguez and stop the run. Chris Rodriguez is a guy that chips away and makes defenses tired by the end of the game. Georgia has shown that they have great rotational depth among the defensive line and linebackers. But against Auburn, they let up their first rushing touchdown of the season against Tank Bigsby. You know, if Kentucky can find success in the run game, I think it opens up a lot of the playbook for Will Levis and Wan’Dale Robinson and other wide receivers to air it out, because it causes the Georgia defense to be honest and keep Rodriguez honest, in the running game. So I think the biggest aspect of this game is whether or not the Georgia defense can slow down a high powered running back. Because if Kentucky is one dimensional, then I don’t know that they will be very successful on offense.

Do you think Kentucky has a chance?

Stats:

•W ill Levis — 87-135, 1,134 yards, 11 touchdowns, six interceptions.

• Wan’Dale Robinson — 37 receptions, 527 yards, four touchdowns.

•C hris Rodriguez Jr. — 120 rushes, 768 yards, five touchdowns.

• J J Weaver — 17 tackles, 11 solo, four sacks, one interception.

•D eAndre Square — 45 tackles, 28 solo, 2.5 sacks.

And what is your score prediction?

Duffey: There is not a single team that is invincible and unbeatable. That’s just the nature of the sport. I do think Kentucky has to play a perfect game. They have to make sure that they minimize mistakes, not turning the ball over, making sure they score when they get in the red zone or in field goal range. And then being able to slow down the Georgia offense to, you know, maybe only scoring 20-some points, because I think the Georgia offense will find points against Kentucky. But if they slowed down just enough to where they could hang with them for the whole game, then they might be able to find success. I’m gonna say Georgia wins this game. I think the defense has proven time and time out that they travel and it’s that it’s at home. I think the crowd is gonna play a big role in the game. So I’m gonna say Georgia 35, Kentucky 17.

Georgia •S tetson Bennett — 43-62, 746 yards, eight touchdowns, two interceptions.

• JT Daniels — 54-71, 567 yards, five touchdowns, two interceptions.

•B rock Bowers — 20 receptions, 315 yards, four touchdowns.

•Z amir White — 71 rushes, 354 yards, six touchdowns.

•C hanning Tindall — 29 tackles, 17 solo, one sack. fall 2021 |11

Thursday, October 14, 2021

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12 | kentucky kernel

LexLive.com

Thursday, October 14, 2021

sports

The Wildcats vs. the Bulldogs:

A historic matchup

By Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com

On Saturday, Oct. 16, Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, will host a matchup between the final two unbeaten teams in the SEC, as the No. 11 Kentucky Wildcats travel to take on the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs.

“We are going to need to play our very best,” Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops said. “There’s no question about that when you’re going in to play at Georgia.”

Stoops and the Cats will roll into Athens following a 42-21 drubbing of the LSU Tigers in Lexington to improve to 6-0 for the first time since 1950.

“Proud of the victory, thought our guys played very good this past week,” Stoops said. “We executed well in all areas. Fundamentally, we are doing some very good things, there is a lot to build on.”

The 2021 Kentucky team will look to follow in the footsteps of the Bear Bryant-led 1950 team, and move to 7-0 via victory in the Peach State.

The 1950 Cats took down Georgia Tech 28-14 in Atlanta behind two touchdown passes from Vito Parilli. The Yellow Jackets went on to finish that season with a 5-6 record. Game seven for

They are so good and talented and can hurt you in so many ways. You have to take advantage of any and all opportunities that you have.

- Mark Stoops

JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (24) runs the ball during the No. 16 University of Kentucky vs. LSU game on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.

the 2021 Cats sees a much more daunting opponent.

Georgia has allowed just 33 points through six games this season, a measly average of 5.5 points per game. The Bulldogs have allowed just two offensive touchdowns this season and have won their six games by an average of 34.3 points.

“You see why they’re ranked the number one team in the country, leading and dominating in the defensive statistical categories and playing extremely well offensively. Just a complete football team,” Stoops said.

Kentucky will come equipped with the SEC’s leading rusher in Chris Rodriguez Jr. as well as the conference’s top receiver in Wan’Dale Robinson, both of whom will be crucial to UK’s success on Saturday.

“They [the Wildcats] have always been really great at stopping the run and running the ball,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said. “The weapons they have outside are obviously different, and the backs run so physical and downhill.”

Rodriguez has accumulated 759 rushing yards on 120 carries, while Robinson’s 37 receptions have helped the Nebraska transfer rack up a league-high 527 yards.

“The biggest difference is [UK] has a really great supporting cast,” Smart said.

While Georgia may not have a league-leader in rushing or receiving, they do possess a multitude of talent all over the field.

“They are so good and talented and can hurt you in so many ways,” Stoops said of the Bulldogs. “You have to take advantage of any and all opportunities that you have.”

Zamir White leads the way for UGA out of the backfield. The running back has rushed for 354 yards and six touchdowns this season.

Brock Bowers sits atop the Bulldog receiving core, compiling four touchdowns and 315 yards on 20 receptions.

“As a freshman, really impressive player. [Bowers] is the guy that jumps out at you all year,” Stoops said.

The Bulldogs’ offense has

remained steady under two different quarterbacks this season.

Both JT Daniels and Stetson Bennett IV have thrown for a combined 13 touchdowns through six games. Daniels, who was tabbed the starter in preseason, has sat out the last three games due to a grade-one lat strain. Bennett has kept the UGA ship steady in Daniels’ absence.

“Stetson is doing a great job of managing their offense and making impressive throws when he has to,” Stoops said. “You saw it last week, you see him working it and running their offense.”

The challenge facing Kentucky is monumental. An opportunity for the Cats to control their own destiny is at stake. For coach Stoops, he’s just focused on what he can control: getting his Cats ready for Saturday.

“We’re worried about ourselves and our preparation, that’s why we’ve been getting better as the season has progressed because of the way we’ve approached the weeks, the way we approached practice, and that will be no different this week,” Stoops said.

fall 2021 | 13

Thursday, October 14, 2021

SEC Nation PHOTOS BY JACK WEAVER

SEC Nation made a stop in Lexington to highlight Kentucky’s game against LSU. Fans brought homemade signs in hopes of getting their moment in the limelight behind the broadcast | Continued on page 15

Kentucky fans hold up signs during SEC Nation ahead of Kentucky football’s game against LSU on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, at William T. Young Library.

Tim Tebow airs live on SEC Nation ahead of Kentucky football’s game against LSU on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, at William T. Young Library in Lexington, Kentucky.

Kentucky football head coach Mark Stoops talks to SEC Nation hosts ahead of Kentucky football’s game against LSU on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, at William T. Young Library.

To the left: Kentucky cheerleaders hype up fans on the set of SEC Network ahead of Kentucky football’s game against LSU on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, at William T. Young Library.

14 | kentucky kernel

Thursday, October 14, 2021

SEC Nation hosts announce their win predictions for Kentucky football’s game against LSU on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, at William T. Young Library.

Paul Finebaum sits on the hood of a Trans Am during SEC Nation ahead of Kentucky football’s game against LSU on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, at William T. Young Library.

To the left: SEC Nation airs live from William T. Young Library ahead of Kentucky football’s game against LSU on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.

fall 2021 | 15