Cats Cannot Overlook Southern Miss Even With Early SEC Games This Season

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(Vicky Graff Photo)

Kentucky jumps into Southeastern Conference play almost immediately this season when it hosts South Carolina Sept. 7 in its second game and follows that by hosting powerhouse Georgia Sept. 14.

Linebacker D’Eryk Jackson said not to forget that UK hosts Southern Mississippi before the crucial SEC September games.

“I think us just going in and practicing hard every day and having an even-keeled mindset, as my coach will say — having an even-keeled mindset every day and practice every day like it’s your last,” Jackson said. “If we have that mindset, I think we’ll do good and make a good run in the playoffs this year.”

A playoff run? Even with an expanded 12-team playoff, that could be a big optimistic for Kentucky given it faces one of the nation’s more difficult schedules this year. Coach Mark Stoops emphasized at SEC Media Days the importance of being ready to play well Aug. 31 against Southern Miss before SEC play starts.

“But with the league games coming up so quick, you’d better be a little bit conscientious of how you’re handling camp, what you’re doing, where you’re prioritizing your time, and making sure you’re prepared to play some big games very early,” Stoops admitted.

Kentucky normally plays at least two, and sometimes three, non-conference games before starting SEC play. However, that can have a downside, too.

“I’ll be honest, it was pretty difficult to go seven or eight straight SEC games. That’s a brutal stretch and takes its toll on you mentally and physically. This year it’s mixed in a little bit better,” Stoops said.

“And of course we always end the season with Louisville, and they had such a tremendous season, such a good program. They were very good last year. We were fortunate to go up on the road and beat them to cap the season. But that’s tough after a tough SEC gauntlet.”

7 Responses

  1. You’re SO right LV. Not to long ago the mighty Chattanooga Mocs almost knocked us off in the opener !🤮

    1. This is a valid concern, Paul, & yes, LV brought it to the attention of the BBN. Let’s hope Stoops & staff read this article & take action.

      The opener has exposed the lack of UK mental prep far too many seasons, starting with the very 1st game of the Stoops era when WKU beat UK. The trend of starting slow in the season opener & starting slow in far too many games every year is one of the few major issues Stoops has not addressed. That is an essential aspect of the game that is far too costly to leave “as is” year after year.

  2. The openers are very important because it establishes how a team will play against future opponents, regardless of the relative strength of the first and any future opponent.

    My greatest concern about Stoops’ teams over the years has been the level of performance in game 1, whether it was his first season, or any season thereafter.

    I fail to comprehend how any UK coach, any UK player, and UK fan could EVER UNDERESTIMATE ANY OPPONENT,

    Yet, it seems we have this type of conversation almost every year.

    That epitomizes the difference between a program wanting to rise, and the programs that get it done from week 01 to week 14 every season.

    1. The elite teams play EVERY game as if it’s their biggest game of the season. Saban & other great coaches know the importance of being mentally prepared at the start of EVERY game in addition to being physically ready

  3. Southern Miss is a bowl team almost every year. We aren’t playing are usual cupcake the first game. Their QB is returning after leading them to I think 8 wins last year. They have a lot of players back too. They will probably win at least 8 or 9 games this year. We need to come out and hit them in the mouth on the first series. I think we win by at least 3 touchdowns. We also need to get the backups some reps in this game so I don’t think we will win by 40. I’m thinking 38-17. We would be foolish to play our starters the whole game. We need to get the backups as many reps as possible. I love this team. I love our defense. I love our offense. I think we can get into the playoffs. I’m seeing 11-3 for this Kentucky team. 10-2 6-2. We will win the first round in the playoffs. Then we will lose the second game. That’s how I see it. 11 wins will tie the most wins in the schools history. So it will be a great season. The best season I’ve seen in my life. I’m 41 years old.

  4. We can’t afford to overlook anyone in a season that could go anywhere from 8-4 to 4-8. With no injuries and no flukes, a 6 or 7 win season is doable, but we have to start out at 2-0 before playing Georgia. South Carolina, Auburn, Florida, and Louisville are the toss-up games. Southern Miss, Ohio, Vanderbilt, and Murray State are must win games. Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Texas are still head and shoulders better than us. Go Cats!

  5. From 4-8 to 8-4 is a wide spread of possibilities. From 4-8 to 11-3 is a long way from a program that has established itself as solid. Yet, these records are all in play because UK has been so inconsistent and unable to consistently beat the teams which should be a definite win.

    Every pre-season is full of quotes which stir up a lot of the BBN into expecting a solid full-season effort, but only 2 seasons with 10 wins after winning the bowl game.

    We cannot count the number of games UK was in a position to push that particular season to another level but instead lost that pivotal game and then lost another because the staff & players stayed down instead of getting up to fight another round.

    This season will either confirm disappointments are more likely than wins in key games or it will be an isolated successful season

    It will take 3 consecutive 10-win seasons to prove UK has gotten up above a middle of the pack team. Vandergriff and Walker could lead UK to back-to-back 10 wins by returning, but Walker will be gone for sure. Maybe some others will rise up.

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