Disastrous Weekend for UK bowl prospects

[STUCKNBIG10]

Terrible weekend, all the way around:

1. UK loses
2. Auburn loses, thereby decreasing its chances for a NY 6 bowl berth (Bama still left on schedule)
3. A&M loses, thereby decreasing its chances for a NY 6 bowl berth
4. UGA wins, thereby tying UK in SEC East and increasing its bowl profile
5. Ole Miss wins, thereby increasing its chances for bowl eligibility

The only positives are USCe losing and Vandy losing (and I suppose MSU losing, though no one expected them to win).

UK continues to fall further down the bowl pecking order.

 

[Stenchymouse]

We're going to win 6 games and go to a weak bowl...

It's all about breaking through to get to post season and getting extra practices.

I never did put much thought into top tier bowls and honestly, we have no business playing in a good bowl.

Our team is just too one dimensional offensively and has too little depth defensively to get to a better bowl.

Next year, we'll move up some and then beyond that, we should get to post season almost every year for the foreseeable future.

 

[STUCKNBIG10]

We're going to win 6 games and go to a weak bowl...

It's all about breaking through to get to post season and getting extra practices.

I never did put much thought into top tier bowls and honestly, we have no business playing in a good bowl.

Our team is just too one dimensional offensively and has too little depth defensively to get to a better bowl.

Next year, we'll move up some and then beyond that, we should get to post season almost every year for the foreseeable future.

Yes, I understand. My point is that there is a huge difference between playing a mediocre team in Birmingham vs. playing a mediocre team in Nashville or Charlotte. First, the fans would flock to Nashville or Charlotte or Florida and they will not do so for Shreveport or Bham. Second, it's good to play a "name team" that's down vs. a "no name" that's good.

 

[trueblujr]

Bowls are about $$$ and puttInc butts in the seats. They know UK travels better than most even in our apathetic years. We will get a bowl probably a notch above where we deserve. We have a 4-4 SEC record if SC or Arkansas or Ole Miss get eligible with 3 conference wins then we might land ahead of them in the pecking order whether deserved or not because we travel well.

 

[Stenchymouse]

Yes, I understand. My point is that there is a huge difference between playing a mediocre team in Birmingham vs. playing a mediocre team in Nashville or Charlotte. First, the fans would flock to Nashville or Charlotte or Florida and they will not do so for Shreveport or Bham. Second, it's good to play a "name team" that's down vs. a "no name" that's good.

It would have been nice to get to a better bowl but honestly we're lucky to have gotten 6 after the first 2 weeks of the season.

If we can get a QB that keeps the opposing defenses honest, we can take a BIG step forward next year!

 

[K_TIME]

To be honest...UK's isn't even selling out our own stadium and the weather has been very temperate. I just don' t see alot of Cat fans going to Charlotte/Nashville vs. Birmingham/Shreveport. Nashville could get a slightly higher uptick due to being a few hours drive...but I'd doubt fans go hard for a game that will cost $50 a ticket and the opponent will be a poor Big 10 school.

In the end, it's about beating Austin Peay to get to 6 wins...nothing else is tangible for this team. Maybe we can make UL sweat it out a bit in season finale.

 

[On-On-UK_rivals45415]

We're going to win 6 games and go to a weak bowl...

It's all about breaking through to get to post season and getting extra practices.

I never did put much thought into top tier bowls and honestly, we have no business playing in a good bowl.

Our team is just too one dimensional offensively and has too little depth defensively to get to a better bowl.

Next year, we'll move up some and then beyond that, we should get to post season almost every year for the foreseeable future.

Well said, Stench.
Baby steps. Building a program doesn't happen overnight...

 

[WildCard]

Yes, I understand. My point is that there is a huge difference between playing a mediocre team in Birmingham vs. playing a mediocre team in Nashville or Charlotte. First, the fans would flock to Nashville or Charlotte or Florida and they will not do so for Shreveport or Bham. Second, it's good to play a "name team" that's down vs. a "no name" that's good.

Yes, there is. And I totally agree about playing a "name team" that is down vs. a "no name" team having a good year. But beggars can't be choosers. Furthermore, while Nashville is close, I'm not sure there has been enough season ticket sales this year to assume an eye popping crowd as there was the last time the Cats played there.

And regarding those so called "NY 6" and upper tier bowls? Is not the SEC a locked in partner to such bowls? For example, right now it looks like the Sugar Bowl is going to have absolutely no better than a 3 loss SEC representative unless they have some kind of provision to pass over an SEC team.

Peace

 

[sluggercatfan]

We're going to win 6 games and go to a weak bowl...

It's all about breaking through to get to post season and getting extra practices.

I never did put much thought into top tier bowls and honestly, we have no business playing in a good bowl.

Our team is just too one dimensional offensively and has too little depth defensively to get to a better bowl.

Next year, we'll move up some and then beyond that, we should get to post season almost every year for the foreseeable future.

Under Stoops? More faith than I have.

 

[GGCAT]

Terrible weekend, all the way around:

1. UK loses
2. Auburn loses, thereby decreasing its chances for a NY 6 bowl berth (Bama still left on schedule)
3. A&M loses, thereby decreasing its chances for a NY 6 bowl berth
4. UGA wins, thereby tying UK in SEC East and increasing its bowl profile
5. Ole Miss wins, thereby increasing its chances for bowl eligibility

The only positives are USCe losing and Vandy losing (and I suppose MSU losing, though no one expected them to win).

UK continues to fall further down the bowl pecking order.

Agree with most everyone has said on here....getting there most important and Saturday did us no favors on possibly sneaking up the pecking order.

Barring further chaos SEC will have 11 bowl eligible teams and due to some geographic preferences, Kentucky probably comes in 11th on that list.

Did some playing around with teams and bowls last night and don't see any realistic scenario other than Birmingham

In the end this is what I came up with

Alabama Final Four
LSU Sugar
Tennessee Orange
Auburn Citrus
Florida Outback
Georgia Tax Slayer
Texas A&M Texas
Arkansas Music City
Ole Miss Liberty
USC Belk
Kentucky Birmingham

The bottom four teams could be jumbled slightly, but think Belk takes USC due to geography, either Arkansas or Ole Miss is going to Liberty for same reason, the other to Nashville as neither of those teams "should" lose the last two weeks.

The one caveat to this is that its only "optional" that the Orange Bowl take an SEC team, so if that does not happen then every team gets bumped down one and Shreveport comes into play.

Ideally Shreveport should take an Ole Miss or Arkansas due to proximity and its less than desirable day after Christmas date, BUT as they have the absolute last pick no matter what, that option will most likely not be there.....so UK may be that team and just due to date and distance....couldn't imagine much of a turnout.

 

[Tskware]

Terrible weekend, all the way around:

1. UK loses
2. Auburn loses, thereby decreasing its chances for a NY 6 bowl berth (Bama still left on schedule)
3. A&M loses, thereby decreasing its chances for a NY 6 bowl berth
4. UGA wins, thereby tying UK in SEC East and increasing its bowl profile
5. Ole Miss wins, thereby increasing its chances for bowl eligibility

The only positives are USCe losing and Vandy losing (and I suppose MSU losing, though no one expected them to win).

UK continues to fall further down the bowl pecking order.

Yes, that is exactly my take as well. Fingers crossed for the Belk Bowl, otherwise, I think Liberty or Independence.

 

[bthaunert]

Bowls are about $$$ and puttInc butts in the seats. They know UK travels better than most even in our apathetic years. We will get a bowl probably a notch above where we deserve. We have a 4-4 SEC record if SC or Arkansas or Ole Miss get eligible with 3 conference wins then we might land ahead of them in the pecking order whether deserved or not because we travel well.

We travel well when the fan base is excited. When the fan base isn't excited, we get turnouts like the last time we were in Birmingham.

 

[olblue]

Bowls are about $$$ and puttInc butts in the seats. They know UK travels better than most even in our apathetic years. We will get a bowl probably a notch above where we deserve. We have a 4-4 SEC record if SC or Arkansas or Ole Miss get eligible with 3 conference wins then we might land ahead of them in the pecking order whether deserved or not because we travel well.

If you were in Birmingham in 2011, you couldn't say that UK travels better than most in football. Basketball, yes. Football no. Most teams in the SEC travel better than UK to road games.

 

[GGCAT]

If you were in Birmingham in 2011, you couldn't say that UK travels better than most in football. Basketball, yes. Football no. Most teams in the SEC travel better than UK to road games.

While Birmingham turnout wasn't large numbers it probably was bigger than Memphis....at least that's my recollections from being at both.

And yes, for road games UK football doesn't travel great, but for bowl games I'd say were on par with a lot of other conference teams. Turnout isn't so great for the "legacy" programs if the bowl doesn't meet their entitled fan bases standards.

 

[fuzz77]

It would have been nice to get to a better bowl but honestly we're lucky to have gotten 6 after the first 2 weeks of the season.

If we can get a QB that keeps the opposing defenses honest, we can take a BIG step forward next year!

The offense scores 36 pts and puts up over 600 yds yet people want to focus on the QB and the offense.
I've not done the research but I'd have to think that if you score 36pts and rush for more than 400yds in a game you're going to win a large percentage of the time.
Yes, having a better passing attack would be nice. Being able to stop teams on defense would allow UK to win many, many more ballgames.

 

[DACats86]

The offense scores 36 pts and puts up over 600 yds yet people want to focus on the QB and the offense.
I've not done the research but I'd have to think that if you score 36pts and rush for more than 400yds in a game you're going to win a large percentage of the time.
Yes, having a better passing attack would be nice. Being able to stop teams on defense would allow UK to win many, many more ballgames.

A QB/passing game that makes defenses play UK honestly in the red zone would help turn some of those field goals into TDs, but otherwise I agree with you. Defense is the major issue, and it regressed a lot against Tennessee (probably b/c of injuries).

 

[Los Gatos]

Parts of quote deleted

Barring further chaos SEC will have 11 bowl eligible teams and due to some geographic preferences, Kentucky probably comes in 11th on that list.

The one caveat to this is that its only "optional" that the Orange Bowl take an SEC team, so if that does not happen then every team gets bumped down one and Shreveport comes into play.

Sound analysis. I don't see the Orange taking a SEC team so I suspect it's Shreveport.

 

[fuzz77]

The Sporting News just released their projections and has UK playing IU in the Music City Bowl.
I'd take it.

 

[DACats86]

We travel well when the fan base is excited. When the fan base isn't excited, we get turnouts like the last time we were in Birmingham.

The program was in decline at that B-Ham Bowl, and everyone knew it. Also, Hartline had been suspended (wrongly) for that game. UK has at this point not been to a bowl in 6 years. The program is currently on an upward trajectory (as badly as some of you all want to deny that). Not sure why UK "fans" would not support them at ANY bowl. Pretty sure Ole Miss and UofL started their most recent bowl runs at the B-Ham Bowl, but I guess we're too good for that?

 

[bthaunert]

The program was in decline at that B-Ham Bowl, and everyone knew it. Also, Hartline had been suspended (wrongly) for that game. UK has at this point not been to a bowl in 6 years. The program is currently on an upward trajectory (as badly as some of you all want to deny that). Not sure why UK "fans" would not support them at ANY bowl. Pretty sure Ole Miss and UofL started their most recent bowl runs at the B-Ham Bowl, but I guess we're too good for that?

My opinion is that the overall fan base isn't excited. I'm glad we're going bowling and hope it's a step in the right direction, but home attendance and excitement around the program show that there is still a lot of angst among the fans. I don't see a good turnout for a Birmingham bowl.

 

[DACats86]

My opinion is that the overall fan base isn't excited. I'm glad we're going bowling and hope it's a step in the right direction, but home attendance and excitement around the program show that there is still a lot of angst among the fans. I don't see a good turnout for a Birmingham bowl.

I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm saying I don't understand the mentality.

 

[fuzz77]

While Birmingham turnout wasn't large numbers it probably was bigger than Memphis....at least that's my recollections from being at both.

And yes, for road games UK football doesn't travel great, but for bowl games I'd say were on par with a lot of other conference teams. Turnout isn't so great for the "legacy" programs if the bowl doesn't meet their entitled fan bases standards.

Don't agree at all. People traveled to Memphis and spent a couple of days, enjoyed Beale Street...there was a definite UK presence in the city. In Birmingham people that went, drove down, went to the game and went home. If you were anywhere else in Birmingham the day before/after the game you would have hardly known UK was playing.

Regardless, I don't expect a large turnout anywhere for pretty much the same reasons people don't come to CWS like they used to do. Because... Fill in your excuse here for not attending games.

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

They know UK travels better than most even in our apathetic years.

like others, I question this. Regarding just football, even if we historically traveled better than most fan bases, did we travel better than other SEC schools (which seems to be relevant here)? I recall years when we finished in the top 25 for attendance - but without going back and checking, my guess is that is a lot like recruiting rankings, you can be 24th in the country and only 9th in the SEC, or whatever. Secondly, if it was true that we traveled better than even other SEC schools, is it still true?

The world and culture is changing. There is a reason many schools - not just UK - are reducing stadium seating. People are simply busier now than they've ever been, and most have a nice big screen tv somewhere close. Ego, attendance falls. Bowls are a little different, it's more of a celebration - but in the end, still subject to the same laws of human nature. I have to wonder if many of these secondary bowls will die in the not too distant future.....

 

[maysvilleky]

Maybe UK can play Houston in a bowl and not worry about any defense.

 

[uk_king_cat2]

Unless you win 8+ games you shouldn't get into a good bowl. Hell 6-6 shouldn't be rewarded a bowl at all.

 

[BoulderCat_rivals187983]

When your a P5 team and you barely get in with 6 wins you get a crappy bowl. Doesn't really matter which one. My only hope is it's Nashville or Memphis as that would be fairly convenient for a lot of UK fans. Shreveport OTOH is a long way to go for such a minor bowl. Could be worse. Last year CSU won 7 games but as a MW team got a bowl game that wasn't even televised.

We have too many bowls. I personally think it should take 7 or even 8 wins to be bowl eligible. It's a problem that's hard to fix though. These bowls, even the minor one's provide a nice economic boost for the host cities.

 

[Tskware]

I know one thing, this whole season would "feel" so much better had we beaten Southern Miss, who has lost to Charlotte and Old Dominion on back to back weekends. Even had every other game gone exactly the same, we would be no worse than 7-5 with a chance to end up 8-5, which would have been a really special season. I really really hope we win the bowl game, because if we end up 6-7, it is going to feel a lot like the previous two seasons under Stoops.

 

[kycats3513]

The only bad thing about going to a crappy bowl game while having a mediocre schedule is giving Mitch Barnhart the idea of increasing the prices on everything....again!!!!

 

[kycats3513]

A crappy bowl with a mediocre record only means price increases on everything for Mitch Barnhart.

 

[Mr Schwump]

Some are under the assumption the lower tier bowls are all hot over their attendance but I don't think that's necessarily true. These bowls get their money from sponsorship and TV contracts. Attendance is just gravy.

 

[uk_king_cat2]

The only bad thing about going to a crappy bowl game while having a mediocre schedule is giving Mitch Barnhart the idea of increasing the prices on everything....again!!!!

Oh and he should. Success comes with a price folks. 6-6 is huge for any program striving for greatness. :flush:

 

[Bluetick2100]

The 15 extra practice's are more important that what bowl UK goes to.

Them extra practice is huge for any team trying to get better.

 

[LeonThe Camel]

Bowls are about $$$ and puttInc butts in the seats. They know UK travels better than most even in our apathetic years. We will get a bowl probably a notch above where we deserve. We have a 4-4 SEC record if SC or Arkansas or Ole Miss get eligible with 3 conference wins then we might land ahead of them in the pecking order whether deserved or not because we travel well.

The issue becomes whether or not bowls are picking teams or have the teams picked for them. Sometimes the bowl and the city hosting the bowl have different agendas. One may want a national audience the other want a better turnout at the gate.

 

[NCukcat62]

After losing to Georgia did any fan that wasn't stupid think we'd go to one of those bowls. The Georgia game was big and we blew it

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Unless you win 8+ games you shouldn't get into a good bowl. Hell 6-6 shouldn't be rewarded a bowl at all.

Its all about generating revenue. Back in the old days where there were only 7-8 bowls and 10 games a 7 win team was on pins and needles hoping to get an invite. Now its almost like everyone gets a trophy with 35+ bowls.

 

[Tskware]

Its all about generating revenue. Back in the old days where there were only 7-8 bowls and 10 games a 7 win team was on pins and needles hoping to get an invite. Now its almost like everyone gets a trophy with 35+ bowls.

Other than staying home with a losing record, the only thing worse than being invited to a crappy bowl is getting invited to a crappy bowl . . . and then getting your *** kicked, like we did by Pitt, and UGA did by UCF in the Liberty Bowl (I think) a few years ago, or USC getting clobbered by UConn in the Birmingham bowl. That REALLY sucks.

 

[DACats86]

Other than staying home with a losing record, the only thing worse than being invited to a crappy bowl is getting invited to a crappy bowl . . . and then getting your *** kicked, like we did by Pitt, and UGA did by UCF in the Liberty Bowl (I think) a few years ago, or USC getting clobbered by UConn in the Birmingham bowl. That REALLY sucks.

As Coach Brooks tweeted this weekend: UK needs to win its next game, and win its bowl game.

 

[mtn cat1]

We're going to win 6 games and go to a weak bowl...

It's all about breaking through to get to post season and getting extra practices.

I never did put much thought into top tier bowls and honestly, we have no business playing in a good bowl.

Our team is just too one dimensional offensively and has too little depth defensively to get to a better bowl.

Next year, we'll move up some and then beyond that, we should get to post season almost every year for the foreseeable future.

I have not seen a more accurate analysis of the status of our FB Program! Thus I like your post/reply!

 

[OHIO COLONEL]

I know one thing, this whole season would "feel" so much better had we beaten Southern Miss, who has lost to Charlotte and Old Dominion on back to back weekends. Even had every other game gone exactly the same, we would be no worse than 7-5 with a chance to end up 8-5, which would have been a really special season. I really really hope we win the bowl game, because if we end up 6-7, it is going to feel a lot like the previous two seasons under Stoops.

And the 'feel' will be even worse come 'minor' bowl time, if we end the season with a L to Georgia, a L to UT, a W against AP is given, and a L to UL. Not a very positive ending any way you look at it. Then, a potential (who knows) loss in a bowl game, and the season could feel to some as somewhat of a disaster.

 

[LeonThe Camel]

Its all about generating revenue. Back in the old days where there were only 7-8 bowls and 10 games a 7 win team was on pins and needles hoping to get an invite. Now its almost like everyone gets a trophy with 35+ bowls.

Participation day for football players. Everyone is a winner, no need for any player to go home with a frownie face. Why even keep score.

39 bowl games PLUS the 2 semi-final games, so in total, 41 bowl games and a championship. That means 82 play for a postseason spot.

128 teams are in D1. 32 teams already have 7 or more losses. So 96 teams are fighting for 82 spots. 18 teams have 6 losses already.

looks like some 7 loss teams will be extended the participation trophy.