Let me help breakdown why UK fans are excited in the most simple way possibly so that the several Vol fans lurking the board can comprehend.
UK has had some pretty decent success and seen some terrific player development over the past 4 years or so while bringing in solid recruiting classes that consist mostly of 3 star players with a few 4 star guys sprinkled in here and there. We've been competitive in the East (have even had a couple opportunities late in the season to win the East but were not able to capitalize) have been to 4 straight bowl games, and had a 10 win season during this time frame.
The 2020 class is already the best class in the history of the program with several 4 star players and an elite 5 star guy coming in, and the class is likely to get even better. Not to even mention the transfers coming in like Kelvin Joseph and Joey Gatewood. You apply the same high-level player development to a higher level of talent and you would only expect for the success of the next 4 years to surpass the success of the past 4. With this higher level of recruiting that UK is experiencing, why would UK fans not expect to have a shot to win the East at some point in the next few years, considering we have come pretty close to doing so at times during the past 4 seasons?
This is so easy to dismantle. Let's take a look at your "recent success" in the SEC.
2016 - Tied for second, but really you were 4th behind TN and UGA, and two games back.
2017 - Third, and three games back.
2018 - Second, and got blasted by UGA. In order to win the East you would have had to beat UGA, and Tennessee. You didn't come close, losing by a combined 34 points in your best season since when?
2019 - Fourth.
My question to you would be, when were you ever REALLY in contention to win the east late in the year? UGA is miles ahead of you (and us), you have beat Tennessee twice since 1985 by a combined 6 points. Is that your definition of "opportunity" to win the East?
Let me break down the reality for you on the recruiting front. You have finished 5th in the East in the last three classes, by a substantial margin, and have been either tied or finished behind your permanent west opponent all three years. Your future alternating west opponents are Auburn, LSU, and probably Alabama, who you obviously also have finished well behind in recruiting.
Now, you're basing your future contention for the East on this historic 2020 Kentucky recruiting class, and the unknown potential of a couple transfers.It's a recruiting class that is still going to finish around 20th, 4th in your own division, just a few spots higher than South Carolina and Mississippi State, and well behind your future alternating west opponents.
I have to ask you man, where are your wins going to come from? Georgia is recruiting light years above everyone in the East. Florida and Tennessee's past and current classes are significantly better than your historic class. South Carolina has out recruited you over the last four years, and is barely behind you this year. Mississippi State has out recruited, or at least been on par with you, over the last four years. You likely the draw toughest 3 west opponents in the next three years, and I'm sure this doesn't need to be repeated again, but all three have substantially out recruited you. To top ALL of that off, you have beaten Tennessee and Florida exactly THREE times combined over the last 33 years.
So again, where are your wins going to come from?
Note: This is not to say that Tennessee will fare much better in the next several years, it's just a clearly much needed dose of reality for you Cats.
![[laughing]](http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/img/emoticons/classic/laugh.r191677.gif "Laughing [laughing]")
