Vicky Graff Photo
Two weeks ago Kentucky football and their fans couldn’t have been in a better place. The Wildcats knocked off No. 6 Ole Miss on the road in a way that shocked every UK football fan (in a good way) – by going for it on 4th down and long in their own territory with the game on the line.
It was a huge momentum-shifting win after having only beaten Southern Miss and Ohio so far this season.
Kentucky took that momentum into their bye week with extra time to prep for a Vanderbilt Commodores team that had just taken down No. 1 Alabama in Nashville last Saturday. While that also was a confidence-booster, a win like that can also be emotionally-draining and many times lead to a flat game the following week.
But instead of being prepared for their matchup at Kroger Field on Saturday night Kentucky was the team that came out flat to then find themselves leaving the field with a 20-13 defeat and .500 record through six games.
Not to take anything away from what is clearly a much-improved Vanderbilt football program, but Kentucky full-on beat themselves on Saturday. The mountain of unnecessary penalties, soft tackling and poor play-calling/decision making situationally was simply too much to overcome.
The baffling part is that’s all the opposite of how Kentucky had played their last three games against Georgia (13-12 loss), Ohio (41-6 victory) and Ole Miss (20-17 victory).
Instead, was more of a flashback to the way the Wildcats played against South Carolina back in early September. It was almost as if they expected to win this game.
Surely head coach Mark Stoops and his staff have realized there are zero free wins in Southeastern Conference play and hardly any more in college football itself.
Looking at this game (and the South Carolina loss) there’s a trend that has come about over the last few seasons. Kentucky can never sustain their “highs” and instead almost immediately finds themselves back in the “lows.”
For example, take a glance at last season. The Wildcats came out with a 5-0 start and new quarterback Devin Leary was on fire. Kentucky beat three non-conference teams followed by Vanderbilt and then-No. 22 Florida to supposedly ensure their fans that team was “for real.”
Instead of rolling on with that momentum, the Wildcats lost five of their next six games in conference play with two of those losses coming to unranked opponents – including a loss to Tennessee coming off of their bye week.
In 2022 Kentucky had a similar 4-0 start but was quickly derailed by losing five of their next seven conference games. Again, Kentucky lost to Tennessee coming out of a bye week and three of their five SEC losses came at home.
2021 was one of the better seasons Stoops has had during his time at Kentucky, but fans do wonder if that team had higher potential than how they performed. A 6-0 start to the year included wins over Missouri, at South Carolina, over No. 10 Florida and over LSU. However, Kentucky was thumped at Georgia and at Mississippi State (coming off yet another bye) and lost a close game to Tennessee at home to throw a three-game skid in the middle of what could have been a really special season.
So not only has Kentucky found several high points over the last few years, but they’ve almost immediately seen the lowest point of their season right after. The bye week has also not been the Wildcats’ best friend, with Stoops failing to win a post-bye week game over the last three seasons.
You have to go back to 2020 to find a game in which Stoops has won following a bye week. It was at home in narrow fashion when Kentucky beat Vanderbilt, 38-35.
Before then, Kentucky had at least been competitive coming off of a bye with wins in 2018 (Vanderbilt), 2016 (Mississippi State) and 2014 (Vanderbilt). Their post-bye week losses came in 2019 (Tennessee), 2017, (Mississippi State) and 2015 (Auburn).
So what’s the root of Kentucky’s problems?
It could be coaching. It could just be the competitive nature of the SEC.
There are several ways to pick apart the incredible highs and bizarre lows of this program over the last few years.
But what Kentucky football must now focus on the most is a grueling stretch of games starting at Florida followed by a home matchup against Auburn before they play at No. 8 Tennessee.
Kentucky-Vanderbilt Football
Photos by Vicky Graff
10 Responses
This one is on the players. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink. I have stated before that coaching has never been KY’s strong suit but the players have to have the desire to win and own the loss. Especially one this obvious. Focusing on pushing and shoving instead of coverages and blocking schemes won’t get it done. One of these players is going to have to step up and take control of the team. Coaching cannot build desire. Coaching can take desire to win and channel it into something but can seldom create the desire to win.
When does basketball season start?
Today
I’m rarely at a loss for words – am currently.
Said last summer – “ give me 6 or 7 wins with this schedule and I’ll take it “.
Lot’sa people scoffed.
Selfish football.
They don’t play for each other . That’s obvious
Will this be considered a 2nd bye week since UK did not play football yesterday?
Ouch Little Baron … but a great question
The powers that be gave Stoops a magnificent contract, knowing full well his record did not deserve
Such blind faith. Ky is now bound to the obscene pay out
Not unless he goes elsewhere?