College football’s top factor, Kentucky Derby TV ratings, basketball bubble and more
Random notes:
▪ The most important element for a college football team’s success in the 2020 pandemic season: Depth.
“No. 1 is just getting to the 26th with a full group,” Kentucky offensive coordinator Eddie Gran said last week.
That would be Sept. 26 when the Wildcats open at Auburn. All manner of things could happen between now and then, few of them good. COVID-19 has the steering wheel. What if a key player tests positive right before game day? Or a group of players? Or an entire position group. News item: Tennessee had just 30 offensive players available for a practice last week. Teams are allowed to have 85 players on scholarship.
In that regard, this particular Kentucky team appears to be in much better shape to weather the storm that in past years. There is depth on both sides of the line. UK’s secondary is especially deep. The offensive line isn’t far behind, with four starters back from last year, and some promising reserves ready to step up. Name that keeps popping up: Redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Nick Lewis.
Depth doesn’t guarantee success, of course. Talent is still at a premium. But when we really and truly have no idea what will happen over the next three months, it’s good to have safety in numbers.
▪ ESPN’s Jeff Borzello reported Tuesday that the Holiday Hoopsgiving people are working on having the college basketball teams in their event just stay in Atlanta and play multiple games in a bubble-type environment. Kentucky is scheduled to play Georgia Tech on Nov. 27 at State Farm Arena. Memphis is scheduled to play Auburn. Kentucky-Memphis anyone?
▪ Poor Eastern Kentucky. It was tough enough the Colonels had to go out and round up opponents — eight of them — for a fall season, but new coach Walt Wells’ team was obviously unprepared for Marshall last Saturday. I’m willing to throw out the 59-0 thrashing as a product of unusual circumstances. It doesn’t get any better this week, however, when the Colonels visit Morgantown, West Virginia, to face Neal Brown and the Mountaineers.
▪ Louisville and Western Kentucky pull the curtain back on 2020 come Saturday night at Cardinal Stadium. It’s an 8 p.m. start for U of L’s only non-conference game. Given Louisville’s schedule — no Clemson or North Carolina on the slate — the Cards own an excellent shot at finishing in the ACC’s top four. A good start would be a boost.
▪ SEC football’s most surprising opt-out news wasn’t LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase — the nation’s top NFL receiver prospect is focused on the draft — but Georgia quarterback Jamie Newman. After all, Newman was a grad transfer from Wake Forest. He hoped to improve his draft stock by succeeding in the SEC. Now he has decided to skip the season and head straight for the draft. And that hands the favorite role in the SEC East to Florida.
▪ No fans in the stands meant fewer viewers, as well. TV ratings for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby dropped 49 percent from last year. Guess people aren’t tuning in just to see the horses. Still, according to Sports Media Watch, the race was the most-watched sporting event since the NFL Draft in April.
▪ Still amazed that Bam Adebayo, who averaged less than an assist per game his one season at Kentucky, is now the best passing big man in the NBA.
▪ News item: Oklahoma State and Tulsa have pushed back their season opener from Sept. 12 to Sept. 19 because of COVID-19 outbreaks at Tulsa. Look for a lot of this schedule switching in 2020.
▪ Florida says it will allow 17,000 fans for home games this season. Kentucky visits the Gators on Nov. 28. UK has yet to announce how many fans it will accommodate at Kroger Field this year.
▪ Athletic Director Greg Byrne told Alabama season-ticket holders the school is facing a $75 million revenue shortfall this year.
▪ In case you missed it, former UK offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson is now the offensive coordinator at Houston. Dana Holgorsen, Dawson’s old boss at West Virginia, promoted Dawson from tight ends coach to OC and quarterbacks coach in January. Houston opens its season Friday at Memphis.
