A Strange Feeling of Spare Time . . . .

[The-Hack]

Looking at my calendar for the next 30 days, I suddenly noticed the absence of the necessity for planning a Bowl trip.

And that’s not entirely negative: I’ll get to watch more bowls than I usually do, given that my brother and I drive to them, and miss those closely aligned with our travels.

Those trips to Orlando/Jacksonville and even Charlotte were pretty taxing on a couple of 60 year old guys in an SUV, but we did them on the cheap, in motels, with Kroger gas cards in hand, and coupons from chain restaurants.

The bowl streak was fun while it lasted.

And as to the Coaching situation, from this point forward, I am adopting the Alcoholics Anonymous philosophy: I must learn to accept that which I cannot change.

If I had a few million to spare, maybe I could make a real difference, but until that lottery lands, I am in the same boat as all (most) other Kentucky fans.

Those who have followed this forum for the last few years have known me as a Stoops’ fan . . . and statistically, until this season, I feel that “fanship” was well deserved. Perhaps my suggestion of re-naming New Circle Road “Stoops’ Loop” was a tad premature?!?

And now our situation “is what it is.”

Our recent recruiting haul, again, by measuring “Stars” is a tad above our pre-NIL level.

Stone Saunders looks like a real competitor with our Frosh phenom.

So, is there any real possibility of finding another 10 win season with Mark Stoops and staff?

I don’t know.

God knows we need to hit some O-line home runs in the Portal to have a shot, again.

But given that Stoops is the only Coach who has achieved it twice in his tenure, here, maybe he, the staff and players can rebuild the fire that once carried a three-star laden team to within a game of an East title, and a New Year’s Day spanking of Penn State.

Nothing is guaranteed. Our conference is a biatch, and scheduling will do is no favors, prior, perhaps than 2026 . . . and that ain’t a guarantee, as the likes of Vandy, Mizzou, Ole Miss, UF and USCe all seem to be stepping up their game, and I think we’ll see nine conference games in ‘26.

So I’m left with some hope: we still landed a Class that should be roughly equal to or better than half the conference. We kind of lucked into Levis for a magical season, and if the portal hurt us in 2023/24, we cannot deny that it “made” us in 2021.

And at a minimum, we’ll have a hell-of-home schedule in 2025, with both UT’s, Florida, and Ole Miss.

And I’ll be there if the Lord allows another season!!

 

[CaptainBoogerBuns]

Looking at my calendar for the next 30 days, I suddenly noticed the absence of the necessity for planning a Bowl trip.

And that’s not entirely negative: I’ll get to watch more bowls than I usually do, given that my brother and I drive to them, and miss those closely aligned with our travels.

Those trips to Orlando/Jacksonville and even Charlotte were pretty taxing on a couple of 60 year old guys in an SUV, but we did them on the cheap, in motels, with Kroger gas cards in hand, and coupons from chain restaurants.

The bowl streak was fun while it lasted.

And as to the Coaching situation, from this point forward, I am adopting the Alcoholics Anonymous philosophy: I must learn to accept that which I cannot change.

If I had a few million to spare, maybe I could make a real difference, but until that lottery lands, I am in the same boat as all (most) other Kentucky fans.

Those who have followed this forum for the last few years have known me as a Stoops’ fan . . . and statistically, until this season, I feel that “fanship” was well deserved. Perhaps my suggestion of re-naming New Circle Road “Stoops’ Loop” was a tad premature?!?

And now our situation “is what it is.”

Our recent recruiting haul, again, by measuring “Stars” is a tad above our pre-NIL level.

Stone Saunders looks like a real competitor with our Frosh phenom.

So, is there any real possibility of finding another 10 win season with Mark Stoops and staff?

I don’t know.

God knows we need to hit some O-line home runs in the Portal to have a shot, again.

But given that Stoops is the only Coach who has achieved it twice in his tenure, here, maybe he, the staff and players can rebuild the fire that once carried a three-star laden team to within a game of an East title, and a New Year’s Day spanking of Penn State.

Nothing is guaranteed. Our conference is a biatch, and scheduling will do is no favors, prior, perhaps than 2026 . . . and that ain’t a guarantee, as the likes of Vandy, Mizzou, Ole Miss, UF and USCe all seem to be stepping up their game, and I think we’ll see nine conference games in ‘26.

So I’m left with some hope: we still landed a Class that should be roughly equal to or better than half the conference. We kind of lucked into Levis for a magical season, and if the portal hurt us in 2023/24, we cannot deny that it “made” us in 2021.

And at a minimum, we’ll have a hell-of-home schedule in 2025, with both UT’s, Florida, and Ole Miss.

And I’ll be there if the Lord allows another season!!

You're one of the best, Hack. I mean that.
I know UK is called the Wildcats, and it's origin is in football.

I grew up in Lexington

I graduated from UK.

I know the fight songs, and they are football in origin.

I know we were the first to integrate in the SEC--and that was in football.

I'll go to my grave always believing we were meant to play football, be part of the football culture landscape.

 

[RunninRichie]

You're one of the best, Hack. I mean that.
I know UK is called the Wildcats, and it's origin is in football.

I grew up in Lexington

I graduated from UK.

I know the fight songs, and they are football in origin.

I know we were the first to integrate in the SEC--and that was in football.

I'll go to my grave always believing we were meant to play football, be part of the football culture landscape.

The name wildcats came from basketball.

 

[CaptainBoogerBuns]

The name wildcats came from basketball.

"Wildcat" Nickname​

The official nickname for the University of Kentucky's athletics teams is "Wildcats." The nickname became synonymous with UK shortly after a 6-2 football victory over Illinois on Oct. 9, 1909, on the road. Commandant Carbusier, then head of the military department at old State University, told a group of students in a chapel service following the game that the Kentucky football team had "fought like Wildcats." Later the name Wildcats became more and more popular among UK followers as well as with members of the media. As a result, the nickname was adopted by the University.

Alumni

www.ukalumni.net

 

[RunninRichie]

"Wildcat" Nickname​

The official nickname for the University of Kentucky's athletics teams is "Wildcats." The nickname became synonymous with UK shortly after a 6-2 football victory over Illinois on Oct. 9, 1909, on the road. Commandant Carbusier, then head of the military department at old State University, told a group of students in a chapel service following the game that the Kentucky football team had "fought like Wildcats." Later the name Wildcats became more and more popular among UK followers as well as with members of the media. As a result, the nickname was adopted by the University.

Alumni

www.ukalumni.net

My bad, lol, I could've sworn it was a basketball game against Illinois.

 

[billoliver40]

Being a Kentucky football fan can really be a frustrating gig. I've until recently supported Coach Stoops and staff as much as I reasonably could, but now......well.....not much I can do. Lightning actually does strike twice, so I suppose anything is possible. But next season looks painfully as bad as this one.

At this point, I have little hope of a new coach and staff doing a miraculous turnaround

 

[The-Hack]

My bad, lol, I could've sworn it was a basketball game against Illinois.

You have to remember that basketball was pretty much an afterthought at UK until Rupp arrived in the early thirties, as it was (is?) at most SEC schools.

The basic Bowl template (at first called “classics, etc.” national rankings, the legend of Notre Dame, the Gipper, etc. all had emerged prior to the first NCAA tourney in 1938. Centre lost to Texas A&M on (or about) January 1, 1922 in a “Classic” in Dallas . . . the precursor to the Cotton Bowl, and the Aggies had to rely on a member of the student body to take the field to complete the game——hence the 12th Man tradition at aTm.

Our color Blue??

Without looking it up, I think a young attorney and former player, Stoll held up a blue necktie at a chapel service in like 1909 or 10 . . . a chapel service held after a football game. Those chapel services post-game on Saturdays were common at many universities back in that day: buy programs at road venues and occasionally you’ll see essentially the same stories . . . “they fought like Wildcats . . . they fought like tigers,” etc., etc.

Most P4 collegiate nicknames and color schemes came from very casual suggestions at services that likely were held to tamp down on college age drinking and debauchery of the day.

 

[CaptainBoogerBuns]

You have to remember that basketball was pretty much an afterthought at UK until Rupp arrived in the early thirties, as it was (is?) at most SEC schools.

The basic Bowl template (at first called “classics, etc.” national rankings, the legend of Notre Dame, the Gipper, etc. all had emerged prior to the first NCAA tourney in 1938. Centre lost to Texas A&M on (or about) January 1, 1922 in a “Classic” in Dallas . . . the precursor to the Cotton Bowl, and the Aggies had to rely on a member of the student body to take the field to complete the game——hence the 12th Man tradition at aTm.

Our color Blue??

Without looking it up, I think a young attorney and former player, Stoll held up a blue necktie at a chapel service in like 1909 or 10 . . . a chapel service held after a football game. Those chapel services post-game on Saturdays were common at many universities back in that day: buy programs at road venues and occasionally you’ll see essentially the same stories . . . “they fought like Wildcats . . . they fought like tigers,” etc., etc.

Most P4 collegiate nicknames and color schemes came from very casual suggestions at services that likely were held to tamp down on college age drinking and debauchery of the day.

From same link​

​

School Colors - Blue and White​

The University of Kentucky adopted blue and white as its official colors in 1892. Originally, however, UK students had decided on blue and light yellow prior to the Kentucky-Centre College football game on December 19, 1891. The shade of blue, which is close to a royal blue, was chosen when a student asked the question, "What color blue?" At the time, Richard C. Stoll (who lettered in football at UK in 1889-94) pulled off his necktie and held it up. The students then adopted that particular shade of blue. A year later, UK students officially dropped the light yellow color for white.

 

[CaptainBoogerBuns]

Here's an interesting article about Wilbur Hackett

From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans database (main entry)

Wilbur Hackett, Jr.

(born 1949- died: ) Wilbur Hackett, Jr. is a 1999 Hall of Fame inductee at Manual High School in Louisville, KY, where he was a linebacker and running back on defense. He was considered the best all around football player in the city; in 1966 Hackett was All-State, All-Southern, and Parade Magazine All-American. The 5’9”, 185 pound Hackett went on to become a three year starting linebacker at the University of Kentucky (UK). He was the first African American to start any sport at UK and in 1969 was the first to be named as a team captain. Hackett was also one of the first African American football players in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). ...

Wilbur Hackett

 

[Soupbean]

Looking at my calendar for the next 30 days, I suddenly noticed the absence of the necessity for planning a Bowl trip.

And that’s not entirely negative: I’ll get to watch more bowls than I usually do, given that my brother and I drive to them, and miss those closely aligned with our travels.

Those trips to Orlando/Jacksonville and even Charlotte were pretty taxing on a couple of 60 year old guys in an SUV, but we did them on the cheap, in motels, with Kroger gas cards in hand, and coupons from chain restaurants.

The bowl streak was fun while it lasted.

And as to the Coaching situation, from this point forward, I am adopting the Alcoholics Anonymous philosophy: I must learn to accept that which I cannot change.

If I had a few million to spare, maybe I could make a real difference, but until that lottery lands, I am in the same boat as all (most) other Kentucky fans.

Those who have followed this forum for the last few years have known me as a Stoops’ fan . . . and statistically, until this season, I feel that “fanship” was well deserved. Perhaps my suggestion of re-naming New Circle Road “Stoops’ Loop” was a tad premature?!?

And now our situation “is what it is.”

Our recent recruiting haul, again, by measuring “Stars” is a tad above our pre-NIL level.

Stone Saunders looks like a real competitor with our Frosh phenom.

So, is there any real possibility of finding another 10 win season with Mark Stoops and staff?

I don’t know.

God knows we need to hit some O-line home runs in the Portal to have a shot, again.

But given that Stoops is the only Coach who has achieved it twice in his tenure, here, maybe he, the staff and players can rebuild the fire that once carried a three-star laden team to within a game of an East title, and a New Year’s Day spanking of Penn State.

Nothing is guaranteed. Our conference is a biatch, and scheduling will do is no favors, prior, perhaps than 2026 . . . and that ain’t a guarantee, as the likes of Vandy, Mizzou, Ole Miss, UF and USCe all seem to be stepping up their game, and I think we’ll see nine conference games in ‘26.

So I’m left with some hope: we still landed a Class that should be roughly equal to or better than half the conference. We kind of lucked into Levis for a magical season, and if the portal hurt us in 2023/24, we cannot deny that it “made” us in 2021.

And at a minimum, we’ll have a hell-of-home schedule in 2025, with both UT’s, Florida, and Ole Miss.

And I’ll be there if the Lord allows another season!!

Another masterpiece Hack and agree with all. I'm not giving up or in and think despite the dooms day vibe I look and still see a bunch of abilitiy on this roster and am still shocked at how well it looks like we did with this new class as well. And I'm really not that disapointed with a lot of those moving on so far either. Like you say, we just have to find an Oline and a QB to step up and play like a champ. If so I'll be looking foward to getting back to surprising the rest of the league again and having them talk about not wanting to play us again.

 

[The-Hack]

Here's an interesting article about Wilbur Hackett

It is interesting how College Football has sort of entwined itself with American history the last 150 years.

So here goes the old mantra: football is a lot like life.

Seriously, the depth and length of traditions is pretty amazing, if you dig a little deeper. Kinnock stadium at Iowa is named for an heroic player who was tragically lost in WWII. The January 1, 1942 Rose Bowl was shifted to the Atlantic Coast, for fear of Jap bombing such a large crowd in California.

European Catholic immigrant families clung to Notre Dame from the 20’s forward, to this day. When Utah and Brigham Young tee-it-off (a football or golf expression?), I would bet half or more of American Mormans are watching.

Private colleges who invested heavily in “pre-NIL” deals dominated college football until the 1920’s. The Centre upset of Harvard shook the football world, as it was the first time a Southern School had defeated either Harvard or Yale.

There is a seldom mentioned connection between Georgia and Yale. When constructing their new stadium in Athens, UGA very consciously modeled it after the (then) state-of-the-art stadium at Yale. The Yale marching band arrived by train to celebrate its construction.

Notre Dame will always play Navy.

Always.

This is because Notre Dame was struggling badly during WWII. The Naval Academy stepped forward to allow their cadets to also study/pay tuition in association with Notre Dame, in some fashion.

Bo McMillan was the back who scored the winning touchdown against Harvard in the C6-H0 game of 1921. He went on the be the head coach of Indiana University, achieving their highest single season win total, of 9 wins, broken only in their magical 2024 season.

UK establish the corporate Athletic Association in 45/46, to sidestep a state law that disallowed a government employee from earning more than the Governor. The UK folks wanted to outbid IU for the services of none-other-than Bo McMillan. They failed, and settled for Bear Bryant.

Traditionally historic black colleges and universities have their own rich traditions pre and post-dating widespread integration.

Only revealed in the last decade, or so, Kentucky quietly (in 65’/66’) polled member SEC institutions to insure their newly integrated football team could field enough deep-southern opponents to fill their SEC schedule. Vandy, UT, UF, Georgia, Georgia Tech and I think LSU, IIRC “stood tall” with UK. Had they not, the broad implication was Kentucky would re-associate with the BIG or go independent.

 

[Bterhune]

It does feel strange with no bowl game this year. I really looked forward to them. Might just go to Florida anyway and pull for South Carolina. I have a feeling we might not be going to one next year either. Stoops has done so much for the football program I really hope he doesnt hang on too long and risk losing all of the respect and admiration from the fans and the media that he has earned over the last decade. Part of being successful is knowing when its time to hang it up. One more year I suppose then I guess we will see. Money really isnt everything. I really hope thats not the primary reason for returning. If it is then he risks losing things that money cant replace. Really hope thats not the case.