Fate doesn’t want UK to end the streak

You’ll have to forgive UK fans if they saw that one coming.

Montario Hardesty had a lot to say about last night's game, but so did fate. Photo by Allie Garza | Staff

Someway, somehow, deep down inside of the 70,000+ that packed Commonwealth last night, I think they all knew how that story would end. The same way it has for the 24 years before that.

Sure, they had their moments where they thought they could win it. Especially when Berea native Luke Stocker fumbled late in the fourth quarter to give UK one last final last chance to win the game in regulation with a short field.

Everyone will question Rich Brooks and Joker Phillips for not using Randall Cobb in the red zone, but there’s no good doing that now. Why not just go ahead and question fate?

Has there ever been a three or four year stretch where UK came this close so many times without beating the Vols? Have UK fans ever had less confidence that they’ll ever end the streak? Is there a higher power at work here?

You could see a difference in Morgan Newton in the fourth quarter and beyond. He was jittery, overthrew open receivers and showed an alarming lack of poise. You can bet he was thinking about the streak when UK took the field late in the game.

If UK is ever going to win this game, they can’t think about the streak. Have to completely put it out of their heads. They have to go out and jump on the Vols, get a big lead in the first half and cling to dear life and good karma that it holds on.

Because in the fourth quarter, the demons come out to haunt the Cats. UK can’t let fate play a role in the game. They have to take it in their own hands next time, and not leave it to a fluky fumble or an overtime shootout.

It’s awfully hard to beat fate.