How bad is it? The Kentucky Edition.

I have gotten some interesting comments from some UK fans in response to yesterdays post about how terrible Kentucky football is right now. Some ask me to elaborate so as with Arkansas, this needed its own post. It's just to much to hit on in a single blog. Some of you ask how bad can it be? The 2012 Wildcat football team may be the worst team the SEC has seen in a decade. And I wouldn't expect any kind of mid season turn around. Kentucky is 1-3 and simply put will struggle to win another game. A week 2 win against Kent St. may be the only thing that will keep this team from going undefeated. In reverse.

Kentucky fans don't care about football.
This is something I've heard from some of you non Kentuckians but surprisingly, your wrong. The majority of UK fans are just like any other collegiate fan base, they want there team to win no matter what sport there competing in. I happen to know quite a few UK fans that are as passionate about there football program as they are their championship basketball program. Sure, as with any major "basketball school" you have a percentage of fans that talk about "Midnight Madness" in August rather than the opening kickoff. But that small percentage doesn't file into Commonwealth Stadium on fall Saturday's to watch a team that up until a couple years ago was heading in the right direction under former coach Rich Brooks.


When things took a turn
In 2009 Brooks led the Wildcats to a 7-5 regular season and a trip to a bowl game. Then hometown product Joker Phillips took over and things have went south in a hurry. 2012 is his third season as head coach. 2012 is his last season as head coach. And yes, I'm sure of it. No I don't have any sources or inside information, I'm just not a complete idiot. It's not hard to see that the players have quit. Not that it matters if they hadn't, there not very good anyway. Its harsh I know, but its just facts. Their offense is putrid, there defense couldn't stop Western Kentucky ( That's not a punchline, it's factual. They gave up 32 points to a team in the Sunbelt Conference) and play makers are non existent. Throw in a terrible coaching staff and it all adds up to be an awful product on the field.

Can they save the season?
Not a chance. There is a possiblity they can squeak out another win against Samford late in the season but I wouldnt count on it . The SEC schedule will have taken its toll and if you think this team has quit now you aint seen nothing yet. They could ask to play the rest of the season in the MAC but Im not sure that would get them bowl eligible.

Where do they go from here?
Kentucky has a golden opportunity here. Bobby Petrino is there for the taking. He definitely wants to coach at a high level and Kentucky plays in the SEC. Petrino already has ties to the bluegrass state having spent time at Louisville so he would have a head start in recruiting. Speaking of recruiting, he could out-recruit the current staff with a cell phone from 1999 and a $500 budget. Not to mention get a lot more out the current roster. Some fans will bring up his moral issues. They hired John Calipari as their basketball coach. Moral integrity and following rules should not be on the coaching application at Kentucky. That's not a shot at the Wildcats either, I applaud it. Look how that has turned out for them.There are other options. Anybody is better than what they have now. But none are as good a fit as Petrino

The good news is there will be a change so Kentucky fans have something to look forward to. It can't get worse. And look on the bright side, you could Arkansas