The buzz around Kentucky’s offensive line was there before the season ever kicked off, but through three games Lance Heard has done more than live up to it. The left tackle has looked the part of an All-SEC player, and his value to the Wildcats stretches beyond the snap-to-snap work on Saturdays.
Kentucky learned that lesson the hard way against Alabama. After a dominant showing against Youngstown State, the Crimson Tide’s front seven forced the issue, the run game faded in the second half, and Kenny Minchey was sacked four times.
“We obviously discussed it, and you know we adjusted to it, found out what the problem was, and attacked it,” Heard said on Wednesday. “That’s what it is. It’s all about growing.”
A week later in College Station, the line answered back. Kentucky averaged 4.5 yards per carry and gave Minchey enough protection to let the passing game open up with explosive plays. The performance earned praise well beyond the locker room, but Heard is making sure the group doesn’t get comfortable after one clean outing.
Will Stein had strong words for him on his coach’s show, calling Heard a leader and someone the rest of the team pays attention to.
“Lance is a grown man. He really is, and I think Lance is a really good leader,” Stein said.
“ He talked to our guys this week, and when he talks, you listen. He’s obviously a mammoth person, so you’re a little bit scared of him. But he’s a great guy, shows up every day to work, and obviously he’s got all the talent in the world to be really special for a long time.”
That kind of message has been echoed around the facility this week. Heard’s version is simple: keep moving, keep grinding, and don’t get stuck celebrating one result.
“If it’s a loss or a win, you got to flush it. You know, we got bigger goals for this season, so we got to get to it. Can’t dwell on that, whether that’s a win or a loss,” Heard told the media.
Kentucky enters Saturday’s game against South Alabama at Kroger Field as a nearly three-touchdown favorite, but Heard isn’t interested in the spread. He wants the same approach the Wildcats brought against Texas A&M, with no drop-off just because the opponent’s name is different.
“We got to handle our business, man. That’s really what it come down to,” said Heard.
“We’re gonna approach this game just like we approach Texas A&M. It’s no different just ’cause it’s South Alabama.”
In Other News...
Kentucky Fans Have Plenty To Debate About This Kansas Showdown
The annual Champions Classic will again put Kentucky in a high-profile early-season spot, and this years meeting with Kansas now has a formal landing point. The Wildcats and Jayhawks are scheduled to tip off Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 9:30 p.m. ET at the United Center in Chicago, with ESPN carrying the nightcap after Duke and Michigan State open the doubleheader at 7:00 p.m. ET.
For Kentucky fans, the announcement adds another circled date to a matchup that always brings plenty of conversation before anyone even reaches the opening tip. Presale tickets for the event are already available through Ticketmaster with the code WILDCATS, giving supporters a chance to lock in seats for one of the seasons most watched stages before the full picture around the game really starts to sharpen. [Read more 🡒]
Karl-Anthony Towns Suddenly Has A Knicks Decision Kentucky Fans Should Watch
Karl-Anthony Towns turned in a strong first season with the Knicks, capping it with an NBA championship and a third straight All-Star nod. For Kentucky fans, that kind of year is still a point of pride, especially with Towns continuing to look like one of the leagues most accomplished frontcourt stars after his days in Lexington.
The wrinkle is what comes next. Contract extension talks between Towns and New York have reportedly stalled, with the Knicks seeking a significant pay cut while sorting through multiple deals on the roster. With owner James Dolan reportedly wary of pushing too far beyond the salary cap, Towns suddenly sits at the center of a decision that could shape the Knicks' offseason and keep Wildcats fans watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Has One Trap To Avoid After That Texas A&M Win
Fresh off the kind of win that can make a September feel bigger than it is, Kentucky comes home to Kroger Field on Saturday with a chance to keep its momentum rolling. The Wildcats will face South Alabama in a 12:45 p.m. ET kickoff on SEC Network, and the setting is exactly the sort that can test a team coming off an emotional high. Kentucky is trying to move to 3-1 and stay on track after taking down Texas A&M.
The danger is obvious enough: this is the sort of game where the favorite can spend more time fighting itself than the opponent. South Alabama arrives at 2-1 under Major Applewhite and has some uncertainty at quarterback, with Bishop Davenport dealing with a minor injury and Jared Hollins also in the mix. Kentucky is still favored by three touchdowns, but the challenge after a breakthrough win is keeping the same edge when the matchup on paper says it should be comfortable. [Read more 🡒]