Senior Seth McGowan danced after scoring against Tennessee Tech. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Senior Day can be a formality and sometimes when a team is not having a great season honoring the seniors at their final home game is not always a big celebration.
Kentucky did not have anywhere near a capacity crowd at Kroger Field Saturday when it played Tennessee Tech in the final home game for 25 seniors. As expected, Kentucky won in a big way but coach Mark Stoops wanted to make it clear how much he appreciated what those seniors meant to him.
“It’s very important. Some of these guys have been with us through so many good things, bad things, everywhere in between,” Stoops said after the game. “I love this team’s attitude and effort and really greatly appreciate the seniors playing for the last time at Kroger Field. Some of those guys have been around a long-long time and some of them are new. All of them have had a great impact on our program and they have shown great leadership and I greatly appreciate them.”
He singled out safety Jordan Lovett, a North Hardin product who was on crutches for the pregame ceremony after being injured in Kentucky’s win over Florida a week earlier. He finished this season with 44 tackles, three tackles for loss and two interceptions.
“You look at a guy like Jordan Lovett and having to see his family out there today broke my heart because he can’t finish the season out on the field,” Stoops said. “He’s given everything to this program. He’s a remarkable young man along with so many others.”
Lovett and other seniors came to UK either during the 10-win season in 2021 or the next year because of the 10-win season. Kentucky has not reached 10 wins again and last year finished 4-8 and did not make a bowl game. However, those players did not quit on this team and are part of the reason why UK has now won three straight games and can earn a bowl bid with a win at Vanderbilt or Louisville.
“You can’t ever take that for granted. Look at our league. It’s brutal,” Stoops said. “We were on a good roll. We’re trying to get back to that point, but you never take things for granted. It’s difficult. We’re worried about right now, this week, and going one-on-one again. I know that’s coach speak, but it’s the truth. It’s important.”
