SEC 2009 // Is Kentucky Relevant?

by cocknfire on Jun 12, 2009 10:14 PM EDT in Football Comment 3 comments

In the Q&A we did with Truzenzuzex of a A Sea of Blue, he said something that I think gets to the real question when it comes to Kentucky's cupcake-laden bowl success of the last couple of years: When will the Wildcats become relevant?

In reality, if UK is ever to become a consistent and respected mid-pack performer in the SEC, it must be able to compete with South Carolina, Tennessee and Auburn.

The point is a good one. The Big Three in the SEC East (Florida, Tennessee and Georgia) used to be able to count three sure wins on their schedules: South Carolina, Kentucky and Vanderbilt. That's changed over the last four years, as all three teams have become more competitive, but Kentucky pretty quickly fell behind the Gamecocks and is arguably falling behind the Commodores in this department.

South Carolina has defeated Tennessee twice and Vanderbilt has earned one victory over the Vols in the last four years; Tennessee has won its last 24 games against UK. South Carolina has defeated Florida in the last four years; Kentucky hasn't won against the Gators since Boston's "Amanda" topped the charts.

The only place Kentucky equals South Carolina and Vanderbilt over the last four years is against Georgia: All three have one win. (To add insult to injury, Vanderbilt has defeated the Gamecocks for two years running, while Kentucky's last victory against South Carolina came in 1999. And Vanderbilt defeated Kentucky last year.)

And it's not just against the Big Three that the Wildcats have fallen behind.

None of these records are anything to write home about, but when it comes to conference games, the trend is clear: South Carolina already has a four-game in the SEC lead over Kentucky over the last four seasons, and Vanderbilt is quickly catching up. Narrow it down to the SEC East, and both the Gamecocks and the Commodores are ahead of the 'Cats.

However they do it, Kentucky has to find a way to pass South Carolina or at least fend off Vanderbilt.

Going to bowl games is an accomplishment. But it's little consolation if you're last in the SEC East.

MONDAY: Kentucky Goes for Four
TUESDAY: The Lexington Ledger; 'Don't B.S. on My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining: A Memoir,' by Rich Brooks
WEDNESDAY: Derek Abney: An Appreciation, The Wildcat Formations
THURSDAY: The Future in Blue
EARLIER TODAY: Cat Brains

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Why Mess Up A Good Thing?

cocknfire, very good article. Seems to be right on point. But you have to look at the approach we are taking at Kentucky. See, we have this baby step thing going. First we don’t want to garner respect too quick so we try to find someone non conference who finished with no more than four wins last season. Then we draw the local crowd by playing a AA school just down the road. We have to play Louisville, the state boys say so. That feeds those who say we don’t play any BCS schools. With Louisville and our three buy wins, and getting to play Mississippi Stare and Vanderbilt every year, well, aren’t we qualified for a bowl if we beat these six. So see there’s really no reason for us to beat the Gamecocks. We’d be nuts to play a non conference schedule like Vandy does like Georgia Tech and Wake Forest! NO WAY! We’ve go a good think going now. Why mess it up by playing someone Like Rice, 10-2 last year. Or Duke, who is BCS and beat Vandy. Nope, Tennessee is fine with us and balmy during December.

by TheParisGuy on Jun 14, 2009 8:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I admire low-key pragmatism… even low-key pragmatism that is one step above absolute slacker-dom. (Kentucky Football : The Movie, written and directed by the Coen brothers, and featuring Rich Brooks as “The Dude.”)

by peachy rex on Jun 14, 2009 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs