Comment from Kentucky player makes it sound like the Wildcats are intimidated by the Tennessee Vols and Neyland Stadium
You know how they used to say that Mike Tyson, when he was at his peak in the 1980s, would have opponents mentally defeated before they even stepped into the ring because of the intimidation factor? Those are the vibes I'm getting ahead of a big game this weekend between the Kentucky Wildcats and the […]
You know how they used to say that Mike Tyson, when he was at his peak in the 1980s, would have opponents mentally defeated before they even stepped into the ring because of the intimidation factor?
Those are the vibes I'm getting ahead of a big game this weekend between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Vols.
Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker is one of the top players in the SEC. But a comment he made to reporters this week makes it sound like a big part of the Wildcats' focus when they travel to Knoxville on Saturday is to not be intimidated by the atmosphere at Tennessee.
"Our big thing is not getting too caught up in the lights," said Walker. "You know, Neyland is a great stadium, great fan base. Tennessee, it gets rowdy. Just not getting too caught up in the lights and knowing that it's just another team that you get to show up against."
"One thing about Tennessee — the Tennessees, Georgias, Floridas — you get too caught up in the lights, it's 30-0 quick," added Walker. "Just playing where our feet are and not getting caught looking at the fans [or] at the lights. Worry about about the play and do what you gotta do."
We'll see how it plays out for Kentucky on Saturday night, but I'm surprised to see Walker make those comments. He's not wrong. But it seems like verbalizing that to the media is akin to a shark smelling blood in the water. If Tennessee's players, and Vols fans in attendance, know that Kentucky is concerned about settling into the game, it should create even more energy in Neyland Stadium, which will create an even more adverse situation that the Wildcats have to find a way to handle.
It's clear that Kentucky is concerned about the Neyland effect. And they should be. After getting challenged by Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel last week, Vols fans are sure to be in rare form on Saturday night. It could be one of the rowdiest crowds we've ever seen in Neyland.
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