There are plenty of positives to take from UK’s best performance of the young season on the road against a quality South Carolina team. However, I can guarantee you that the Kentucky Wildcats will see the close loss as nothing more than a missed opportunity, wondering what might have been if just a thing or two had been different.

Randall Cobb, Gene McCaskill, Chris Matthews, and TC Drake will wondering what might have been if they hadn’t made a few key drops.

Rich Brooks will be wondering what might have been if he had called for a field goal attempt rather than have Randall Cobb attempt an ill-fated fake or if he had put the ball in Cobb’s hands on the 2 point conversion that would have tied it.

Mike Hartline will be wondering what might have been if he had been able to avoid injury.

UK’s kickoff team will wonder what might have been if they hadn’t put South Carolina in multiple short field situations with horrendous coverage.

Martavius Neloms and the rest of the secondary will be wonding what might have been had they been able to defend just one of Alshon Jeffery’s 3 touchdown catches.

Micah Johnson and the UK defense will be wondering what might have been if they had been able to get off their blocks and get to the ball carrier on South Carolina’s two intermediate 3rd down conversions on the game ending drive.

I could go on, but I think you get the point. That was one of the more even matched games you will ever see. The teams went toe to toe for 60 minutes and were separated by few points (28-26) and fewer total yards (362-361).

The way the game started, it looked like the game could be remembered as the one where Mike Hartline redeemed himself. He led UK up and down the field in the first half, tossing the ball all over Williams-Brice, and pretty much the only way he could be stopped was by drops by his own receivers. He converted 6-11 third downs and led UK to a 17-14 lead. UK looked better than South Carolina and held such a slim lead only due to the aforementioned drops and poor kickoff coverage.

UK felt even better about its chances because they would open with the ball to start the second half. However, it was that very thing that led to Hartline’s exit. UK was in a 3rd and long situation after Derrick Locke was stuffed and an incompletion. Hartline dropped back to pass on a play that wouldn’t even end up counting due a delay of game and was taken to the ground by Darian Stewart with a horse collar tackle. Stewart rolled onto Hartline’s knee and Mike stayed down.

I’m not sure if the referees didn’t get the notice the horse collar is now illegal in college, or if they just didn’t call it because it was a no play, but the damage was done. For the record, if Tom Brady had been tackled the way the Hartline was, I think we may have seen the first ever 45 yard penalty in the history of football. A healthy Hartline remains UK’s best option at QB, but Rich Brooks termed his injury “significant”, which doesn’t bode well.

Will Fidler came in as the replacement and very quickly showed why he does not belong on the field. He tossed a near pick attempting to get the ball to Chris Matthews and UK punted the ball away. The UK defense stiffened, handing the ball back to the offense deep in its own territory, but Fidler again struggled.

South Carolina drove 61 yards in only 7 plays after a punt, causing the final lead change of the game. UK was in position to answer on the strength of a 31 yard Derrick Locke burst, but UK would have to settle for an apparent field goal attempt on 4th and 6 from the 14. The attempt never happened. In call that Rich Brooks admitted to be “dumb” after the game, holder Randall Cobb tried to catch the Gamecock D offguard with a run to the left. South Carolina, however, was not fooled.

The play looked like it could be the one that broke UK’s back, but the defense again buckled down. Now famous Taylor Wyndham showed great pursuit on a scramble by Stephen Garcia, stripping him from behind, resulting in a fumble recovery by safety Calvin Harrison.

The UK offense could not cash in, but this time, Brooks opted for a field goal by all time leading scorer Lones Seiber, closing South Carolina’s lead to 21-20.

Then, the UK defense put the offense in excellent position yet again. On 2nd and 10, Stephen Garcia made one of those bone-headed plays that makes Steve Spurrier squirm. Garcia felt pressure from the UK line and decided that the best thing to do was run backwards. Garcia was downed all the way back at his own 4 yard line, a loss of 14. He played a very good game, but this was one of a handful of plays that almost cost his team the game.

After a moderate gain on 3rd and long, Randall Cobb fair caught the ensuing punt at the UK 43. UK went to the ground in an attempt to take the lead, and for a split second, things looked very good. Cobb took an end around from the South Carolina 46 all the way inside the South Carolina 10 yard line, but an unnecessary hold by Jorge Gonzalez nullified it.

UK however, put itself in position to try to convert a 4th and 3 on the same drive. Brooks was aggressive on 4th down all day, but an iffy illegal snap penaly on Jorge Gonzalez forced a UK punt after Derrick Locke looked to have converted the attempt.

Then, one more special teams gaffe killed the ‘Cats. Ryan Tydlacka, well known last year for his phenomenal short field punting, tried to pin the Gamecocks deep in their own territory. It didn’t work out so well. He hit a terrible punt that got a worse hop. The punt was finally downed 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage at the South Carolina 39.

In a running theme of the day, South Carolina capitalized on good field position very, very quickly, scoring in only 5 plays. South Carolina scored 4 touchdowns today. Those 4 drives spanned a total of 19 plays and 235 yards. UK’s 3 touchdown drives spanned 21 plays and 205 yards. The lesson is clear: don’t give a quality opponent a short field.

Facing an 8 point deficit with just over 8 minutes remaining, UK looked to its best offensive player, Randall Cobb, in the Wildcat formation. Cobb ran for 64 yards on UK’s 70 yard scoring drive, ending it with a 2 yard plunge.

It was clear that Rich Brooks did not want the ball in Will Fidler’s hands on the drive. He attempted no passes and touched the ball only once, handing it off to Derrick Locke.

Why then, if you didn’t trust Fidler to lead UK down the field, would you then all of sudden feel comfortable having Fidler drop back to convert a must have tying 2 point conversion? Unsurprisingly, Fidler tried to fire the ball to Cobb, but was pressured and the pass fell harmlessly to the turf.

With over 4 and half minutes remaining, UK kicked the ball deep and asked its defense to step up one more time. UK forced South Carolina into 2 third downs of 5 yards or longer, but twice the defense was outfoxed.

On the first, UK was wary of the playaction pass, and stayed in close coverage when Garcia faked and rolled right. However, they did not account for the scramble. Garcia dove forward with Winston Guy closing fast, and got enough for the first. On the second, UK again was wary of the pass. Kenny Miles, though, got the ball on a delayed handoff and iced the game with a 14 yard run. UK fans again were left wondering when they would ever beat Steve Spurrier.

As disappointing as this loss was, attention will undoubtedly quickly shift to the quarterback position and next week’s game. Will Fidler has been the backup all season, but he showed next to nothing today, going 2-8 for 16 yards. The two more popular choices among fans will be Randall Cobb and Morgan Newton.

Cobb had a bunch of success today in the Wildcat formation (89 yards rushing), but did not throw the ball. He has not taken QB reps since last fall, so will be rusty in that area. Besides, he does so much for UK as a receiver (62 yards today) and in the return game that I just don’t think Brooks will put him back there full time. Make no mistake though, you will see plenty of Wildcat next week at Auburn (who was dismantled 44-23 by Arkansas today).

Rich Brooks said in his post game press conference that star freshman Morgan Newton will see many more reps this week in practice at QB. Fidler’s performance and Brooks’ lack of faith in Fidler really makes you wonder how Newton has not at least challenged him as the backup. Newton will have the biggest opportunity of his career this week. If he capitalizes, UK fans could well get their wish and have Newton under center.

We will have much more on this as the week goes on, but for now I just wish Mike Hartline the best. He had his best stretch of play of the season and this just has to be awful for him.