New (old) catch-phrase to get us ready for college football season?

To whet one’s appetite, how about, Trap Game?

Intriguing idea, isn’t it? Internet site Bleacher Report studied schedules of all SEC teams “to isolate the biggest potential game they could overlook and lose,” Barrett Sallee wrote. “Kentucky could sneak up on Auburn, Georgia and South Carolina.”

Uh … well.

Before we get to the brevity of those picks, another headline grabber trap game looms in Atlanta on the first Saturday – Louisville and Auburn at the Georgia Dome.

Picked to win the SEC crown, Auburn is favored, but UofL, coming off a bowl win last season, could springboard its way to national prominence by, say trap gaming Auburn.

KENTUCKY

August is for optimists, what ifs and schedule compares. Six Saturdays from the Wildcats’ opener and a first sentence in the last press release ought to include this caution from former UK quarterback Freddie Maggard (1989-91). Louisiana Lafayette is a trap game.

√ Bleacher Report’s idea of UK conquering Auburn on day of Midnight Madness? Nada. Beating Georgia at Athens, the same.

√ South Carolina? Could be trap game for the Spurriers. An upset at Columbia is no folly. Moreover, it could set off a Cinderella-season to launch Stoops Big Blue to the land of T-Shirts with slogans.

The Gamecocks break in a new quarterback and rebuild a defense that was awful last season.

USC and Kentucky are ranked 5-6 in the SEC East Division. A night game in Columbia on SEC Network television.

Trap game for Kentucky?

BASKETBALL SCHOOL?

“Basketball does nothing but help us,” Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops said bravely the other day. “… the basketball atmosphere and John Calipari are great for football recruiting.”

No it isn’t.

No numbers recorded of course, but, beginning with Damian Harris-to-Alabama, try and imagine the number of high school football stars who said ‘No’ to UK because “coach so-and-so told me it’s a basketball school.”

Politically correct Stoops volunteered no examples how one-and-done helps football because there are none. Period.

Because Stoops and staff have managed to recruit extraordinarily well, demonstrates how they’ve managed to, uh, overcome.

Evidence to re-affirm how dissimilar they are, two words will do. Winning and Tradition. Basketball owns it, football doesn’t. Yet?

Ammunition that matters (at recruiting)? Stoops has it. A view by helicopter reveals a sparkling renovated (again) football stadium. State-of-the-art facilities, luxury and visuals to attract the caliber players who stack depth charts at Ohio State, Alabama and elsewhere.

See for yourself on the internet. Google: Commonwealth Stadium renovation.

Then sit back and wonder how so many D-I universities have title contending football and basketball programs simultaneously while Kentucky, here in the heartland, has not been one of them since the Eisenhower Administration?

SKAL-TAI-JAMAL

Before summer competition in April, UK signee Skal Labissiere weighed 7-0 and 216 pounds. Will be interesting to see his weigh-in numbers by October 15.

√ Be it January or next summer, another commit on his way to Lexington is New Zealander Tai Wynyard. A 6-9, 265-pound bruiser, Wynyard could become a two-three year fixture in UK’s D-League production line if Labrissiere leaves after one season. Since Wynyard won’t be 17-years-old until February 5, he won’t be NBA eligible until two years into Bernie Sanders’ presidency.

Just kidding.

√ Jamal Murray, Canadian star headed to Kentucky in September Jamal Murray continues to draw raves. But, worth repeating, an assessment by one talent scout who skips the goo-ga hype.

“Murray’s impact this season will be more like Andrew Harrison than D’Angelo Russell (Ohio State). He’s a big point guard going to a UK team that already has two.”

LOUISVILLE & DRAFT

As certain as summertime, June’s seismic buzz about how many first round draft picks the University of Kentucky sends to its NBA parent clubs is big news. A few weeks ago a University of Louisville fans offered a bit of history.

From 1957 to Terry Rozier, a 16th pick, to the Boston Celtics in June, 22 Cardinals were drafted in the first round. Pervis Ellison was a first overall player draftee in 1989; A trio of No. 2 picks were – Darrell Griffith (1980), Wes Unseld (1968) and Charlie Tyra (1957).

NCAA, TYNDALL & UNC

Donnie Tyndall is long way from Morehead State’s pinnacle moment when his Eagles stunned Louisville in the NCAA Tournament March 17, 2011.

In a 43-page notification, the fired-Tennessee and ex-coach at Southern Mississippi, must answer for seven major rules violations. Accusations include arranging fraudulent academic credit, impermissible financial aid and obstructing the governing body’s investigation.

Before someone cites the late Jerry Tarkanian, let me. UNLV’s maverick coach wrote in his Runnin’ Rebel book, “… in the late 1980s, the NCAA was so mad at Kentucky they gave Cleveland State another two years probation.”

What does this have to do with Tyndall?

North Carolina football and basketball programs are in the (NCAA) dock accused of major rules violations not unlike allegations against Tyndall. We could see “… the NCAA (being) so mad at North Carolina it would give Southern Miss two more years of probation.”

“The NCAA doesn’t want its marquee schools in trouble,” Tarkanian wrote. … “… (it) wouldn’t ever dare take a look at UCLA.”

And so it goes.

Contact me at bob.Watkins24@aol.com