The Enigma Of Ketucky Football

What is the mystery of the University of Kentucky football team? For decades now, as far back as I can recall, the question of what is it about UK`s football program that has held it down and kept major success from its grasp like most of the teams in the SEC? The last successful team I can personally remember was coached by Rich Brooks in the early 2000`s when they had back~to~ back bowl wins and a decent pair of 8 win seasons!

Since that time there has been very little for the fan~base to get excited over. It's very puzzling to me why this has been the case for the UK program for so long. There appears to be no answer to that question and no one seems to be able to pinpoint the problems! Not since the early 1980`s has this program seen several winning seasons in a row. Jerry Claiborne was the coach at that time with a history of turning weak programs around and bringing some semblance of success to each program he took over.

The excitement was evident then but it has been sorely lacking since! What is the formula that will enable this football program with some of the best amenities around the league be lifted from the gutter of the SEC to the top, just as the basketball program has remained for decades? Is it a top secret that only the CIA knows about and other's will have to be content in their ignorance? Such a frustrating problem for both the University and the fans! The answer can not be out of our reach. Most likely it is a puzzle which has a simple answer but other's "muddy the water" with silly decisions in the hiring process! I have respect for Mr.Barnhart as the A.D. here and he has certainly provided the basketball program it's needed `shot in the arm` with coach Calipari for the last 8 season's but the same intensity and knowledge has been sorely lacking for the football team!

Logically there seems to be no significant reason that major success has eluded this football program for many years. Some rather jokingly blame it on a supposed curse against the football team from then~basketball guru and coaching legend, Adolf Rupp, because of Bear Bryant making strong headway for the UK football Wildcats in the late 1950`s! That is mere speculation of course but anyone with serious desires for the football team to enjoy equal success as the basketball side will consider even this comical answer.

There is some very good news for many former UK players who have been drafted into the NFL, however. The numbers of former football stars from UK have gained long~career success for them and their teams in many league cities! Part of the enigma which has plagued this team for so long is the fact that, as it seems, many of their student~athletes have enjoyed fine success in the pro league's which is by far we'll above what they each earned while playing here. It is very peculiar, indeed!

Perhaps one day, soon, a very knowledgeable football coach who sleeps, eats and drinks the game of football, will be brought in and he will add several copies of himself as coaches on both sides of the ball to bring unquestioned and undeniable success and winning seasons to this sadly depleted football program at UK. That would satisfy even the most consistent skeptic and relate the fan~base, which only this year, has declined! It's time for the blue and white of UK football to rise to the top and become part of the elite programs of the SEC! It's high time to be talked about in the same breath as Alambama, Florida, Georgia and Ole Miss! No more guessing~games and no more inept coaches! 

Right now the fans deserve this success and the players do as well! UK stands for excellence in sports so let's bring the football program right alongside the basketball, baseball and cheerleading teams and revoke the `loser image` of football here and by strong commitment and over~the~top enthusiasm lift it to the highest peaks of friction success for decades to come!


Jeff Pendleton
9/19/16