BTI's Rants and Ramblings: Let's Not Forget About the Blowouts Too

Every year, during Florida week, we constantly hear about the multiple opportunities UK has had to end the losing streak to the Gators.  Under Mark Stoops alone, you could argue the Cats should have 2 or 3 wins.  Certainly 2014 and 2017 SHOULD have been wins for UK with 2015 as another possibility.  But nearly every coach since 1986 has had legitimate chances to have ended this dumb streak.  And that is what makes it so difficult to pick the Cats this weekend and makes watching this game every year painful.  They have won so many straight times, instead of figuring out how UK will win, fans just wait for the inevitable loss. But another aspect to that whole mentality is the absolute embarrassments Florida has handed down as well in the last 30+ years.  In those 31 losses, Florida has beaten UK by: (years in bold were home games) 67 points: 1994 65 points: 1996 58 points: 2008 38 points: 2011, 2012, 2016 35 points: 1995 34 points: 2001, 2009, 2010 32 points: 1990 28 points: 1999, 2000 27 points: 1997 21 points: 2005 19 points: 2006 17 points: 2004, 2013 16 points: 1992, 1998 20 of the 31 losses have been by more than 2 touchdowns.  15 of the 31 losses have been by more than 20 points and a whopping 11 of the 31 losses have been by more than 30 points! I don't bring this up to stir up bad memories but just to emphasize that this streak, and all it symbolizes and means for UK fans, is not just about the closes losses throughout the years.  Some of the most heartbreaking losses of my lifetime (1993, 2003, 2014, 2017) have come against Florida.  Hell, you could even throw 2007 into that mix as well.  But it has also led to some of the most demoralizing losses in UK history as well.  There have been games against the Gators over in the first 5 minutes. If you give Mark Stoops credit for anything, it is that he has only been blown out badly by Florida once (2016).  He hasn't broke through but he's probably had the most consistent success in terms of score of any UK coach since the streak began.  It's hard to pick the Cats on Saturday based off what we saw against Central Michigan and the uncertainty at quarterback.  But I do think that if and when the Cats ever do beat the Gators, it is a safe bet it will be with Mark Stoops at the helm.  And when that day comes, it not only washes away some of the close defeats but also washes away so many of the blowouts.