I'm genuinely excited for football for the first time since Couch.

[BigBlueFanGA]

Every year I feel a little like Charlie Brown. Nice try, but a swing and a miss. For nearly 40 years now, I come into every season hoping we'll turn that corner and compete. We had some solid years under Brooks, but we really haven't been relevant since the days of Tim Couch. That is, until now. I really think we turn that corner this year and national relevance will soon be back. Can't wait for the season to start. And as for you Lucy, I'm warning you, don't move that ball again.

 

[southindycat]

Totally disagree with you as soon as you write off the Brooks era. We saw better UK football in that era, on the whole, than ANYTHING ever produced by Mumme & Co. Compare beating a historically mediocre Alabama team with beating an eventual National Champion LSU squad, and tell me again in which era UK football was more "relevant".

No one with any appreciation of the game ever saw anything to like in a football program that acted like you could populate 1/2 a defensive depth chart with walk-ons and guys who did not work out on offense, and then turn them over to a guy completely out of his depth for coaching and coordination.

 

[TheBigBluePrint]

I think the last time I was genuinely 'excited' with good reason was 2007. That team could have won the SEC East that year. Go ahead and call me crazy. Probably my favorite team of all time (in my lifetime).

 

[TheKentuckyKid]

I know I am a nut but I get excited every year.

 

[jnewc2]

It would've been dang hard not to get excited with having maybe the best offense in the country under Andre Woodson, getting up to #8 in the nation while beating Arkansas, Louisville, LSU and having College Gameday come to town

 

[SanAntonioCat]

College Game Day will be back. It's not a matter of if, but when!

 

[mbKat]

I am really looking forward to this season, looking forward to the progress being made. I believe Stoops will get us there soon, he has the drive and determination.

 

[JasonS.]

I know I am a nut but I get excited every year.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

Totally disagree with you as soon as you write off the Brooks era. We saw better UK football in that era, on the whole, than ANYTHING ever produced by Mumme & Co. Compare beating a historically mediocre Alabama team with beating an eventual National Champion LSU squad, and tell me again in which era UK football was more "relevant".

No one with any appreciation of the game ever saw anything to like in a football program that acted like you could populate 1/2 a defensive depth chart with walk-ons and guys who did not work out on offense, and then turn them over to a guy completely out of his depth for coaching and coordination.

I didn't write off Brooks era, we were solid, but the potential we had (and didn't take advantage of) in '98 was great. I had forgotten Brooks had two seasons with better wins/losses than '98 ended up with. Brooks was great for our program. Perhaps I should have just said more excited than I have ever been about UK football.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

It would've been dang hard not to get excited with having maybe the best offense in the country under Andre Woodson, getting up to #8 in the nation while beating Arkansas, Louisville, LSU and having College Gameday come to town

Yep, my bad memory strikes again.

 

[Devils58]

I'm super excited as well. I honestly feel that UK is about to turn the corner from mediocrity, to consistent bowl eligibility. If you're not excited about 2015, then I have to question if you're a UK football fan.

As for the original poster.....were you not excited in 07? Heck I'm the sucker that's excited every year, even in the Joker years. Now however, I feel there is merit to the excitement, for possibly the first time since 07. FWIW, the Couch years were fun as hell!

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

Yeah, I didn't write that very well. Back to creative writing class for me.

 

[ram1955]

The Brooks years were overall better Football, but the Mumme/Couch years actually made me believe there was hope for Ky Football. After CHagan and UK killed Football by firing Curci, I was almost convinced we'd never enjoy decent Football again in Ky. As much as some fans dislike Mumme, IMO he put us on the map and raised our expectations. Had we not experienced the excitement he brought, we might have been satisfied with boring Football and seasons of 3-4 wins for another 40 years.

All that said, I'm ready for Football and very happy we have Stoops.

 

[kats23]

'07 was the last great UK football team. A few breaks and that team could of easily been in a huge bowl. Not quite there with this team but I feel like UK is getting there. Hoping this season cements my thoughts

 

[BigBlueFan1963]

I can't help but to be a little excited. The D-line looks like it will be stout. The O-line will continue to improve and the future is very promising. Strong WR and RB corps. Towles will be better especially with an actual scheme to run.

There is always that LB and secondary question though.

 

[~Keyser Soze~]

I'm genuinely excited every single year but I'm a football junkie. If you weren't exited during the Woodson, Burton, Tamme, Stevie Johnson, Dickie Lyons, Little, Connor, Woodyard, Jarmon, Pryor, Peters, Lindley, Kelley, and McClinton's time at UK, there's no way you're a real UK football fan.

 

[UKWinsAgainYep]

I can't help but to be a little excited. The D-line looks like it will be stout. The O-line will continue to improve and the future is very promising. Strong WR and RB corps. Towles will be better especially with an actual scheme to run.

There is always that LB and secondary question though.

Not sure you can say the D-Line is "stout" when we don't have DEs adequate to replace Z and Bud yet.

 

[JPFisher]

OP, I get what you are saying. It's all good, Bud. Couch vs Woodson is a huge debate in and of itself, so I expected nothing less from the folks on this board when Mumme vs Brooks was brought into question. You're entitled to your opinion! Both eras were incredibly awesome, and neither one can gain an inch in a single page of thread.

I wish I could relive the 90's, though. My dad was a huge UK nut back then.

 

[JPFisher]

Not sure you can say the D-Line is "stout" when we don't have DEs adequate to replace Z and Bud yet.

It's not replacing them that is the issue. It's overall improvement. Lewis, Elam, and Hyde will be our 3-pronged monster for opposing centers. Hatcher, Ware, Johnson, Bell, and Walker, when healthy, will be our boys at the end. That leaves CJ, Meant, Dubose, and Middleton as our others inside. Our starting defensive line could very well be (Hatcher*)Ware, Johnson, Lewis, and CJ Johnson. Backups being Ware, Bell, Meant, and Elam. What about that line doesn't sing to your soul?

 

[ukalum1988]

'07 was the last great UK football team. A few breaks and that team could of easily been in a huge bowl. Not quite there with this team but I feel like UK is getting there. Hoping this season cements my thoughts

Agree with you on this. The 1984 team went 9-3 but only had to play six SEC games, so I would give the nod to the 2007 team being the best since the 1977 squad, with the 1984 team coming in a respectable second.

I think this year's team will probably be similar to the 2006 team, where we will see a clear step forward (including a bowl game), with the following year taking another step forward like the 2007 team did. (Hopefully we won't plateau after that like the 2008, 2009, and 2010 teams did - but I don't think we will).

 

[Dakota25]

I agree with everyone that 2007 was a great year. That year was my freshman year of college and UK had some good teams during my college days but haven't been good since, until now. This team seems similar to 2007 with all the offensive talent.

 

[CrustyCat]

I am trying to temper my enthusiasm this year; it feels like we are still about one year away from where we hope to be on the next step. We could significantly improved this year and still notch only 4 wins. It is not inconceivable that we start the year 2-4 while looking much better than last year. Going to USC is no gimme for any team. We have yet to beat Missouri since their SEC entrance and...well, we know about Florida.

I say all of this because fans need to be mentally tough this year and not pack it in if the season starts poorly or not as good as we hope.

 

[Kycatspaws]

I'm excited about the season. I hope the Cats beat Florida, Louisville and go bowling.

 

[bigbluegrog]

I know I am a nut but I get excited every year.

You are not a nut. There are lots of us that feel the same. I am ready for the season to begin as soon as NSD is over. GO BIG BLUE!