Kentucky’s bowl streak, which is poised to go to four consecutive years this season, may be looked upon in some quarters of this league as no big deal.
But when you look a little closer, it’s more obvious than ever what a bang-up job Rich Brooks has done with this program.
The Wildcats (6-4, 2-4) gained bowl eligibility last week with a 24-13 win over Vanderbilt and have won four of their last five games.
Granted, the SEC has nine bowl tie-ins, but going to a bowl four straight years isn’t as common as some might think in this league.
In fact, other than Kentucky, only Alabama, Florida, Georgia and LSU are working on a streak of four bowls in four years.
Some pretty elite company, huh?
And counting whatever bowl game they go to this season, the Wildcats also have three more chances to get to the seven-win mark -- which would be four straight seasons of at least seven wins.
The last time that happened at Kentucky was nearly a century ago. The Wildcats won nine in 1909, seven in 1910, seven in 1911 and seven in 1912.
All these numbers aside, Brooks’ greatest accomplishment with this program might be the way he’s upgraded the talent and improved the depth.
This season is a shining example when you consider how many key players the Wildcats have lost, yet are still closing in on their fourth straight winning season.
It started back in May when the NCAA ruled that All-SEC defensive end Jeremy Jarmon was ineligible for taking a banned dietary supplement. All-SEC cornerback Trevard Lindley has missed half the season with an ankle injury. Quarterback Mike Hartline went down with a knee injury and is out for the regular season, and even top offensive playmakers Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke have been hobbled.
Brooks said Wednesday that Cobb is questionable for this weekend’s Georgia game with a shoulder injury.
Still, here the Wildcats are, pointing toward a fourth consecutive postseason.
“The very obvious thing, at least to me, is that our depth is better than it has been,” Brooks said of his club’s perseverance. “We’re at least still competitive and have a chance to win and haven’t fallen off the face of the earth like we would have in past years.”
But when you look a little closer, it’s more obvious than ever what a bang-up job Rich Brooks has done with this program.
The Wildcats (6-4, 2-4) gained bowl eligibility last week with a 24-13 win over Vanderbilt and have won four of their last five games.
Don McPeak/US PresswireRich Brooks is on the brink of leading the Wildcats to a fourth straight winning season.
In fact, other than Kentucky, only Alabama, Florida, Georgia and LSU are working on a streak of four bowls in four years.
Some pretty elite company, huh?
And counting whatever bowl game they go to this season, the Wildcats also have three more chances to get to the seven-win mark -- which would be four straight seasons of at least seven wins.
The last time that happened at Kentucky was nearly a century ago. The Wildcats won nine in 1909, seven in 1910, seven in 1911 and seven in 1912.
All these numbers aside, Brooks’ greatest accomplishment with this program might be the way he’s upgraded the talent and improved the depth.
This season is a shining example when you consider how many key players the Wildcats have lost, yet are still closing in on their fourth straight winning season.
It started back in May when the NCAA ruled that All-SEC defensive end Jeremy Jarmon was ineligible for taking a banned dietary supplement. All-SEC cornerback Trevard Lindley has missed half the season with an ankle injury. Quarterback Mike Hartline went down with a knee injury and is out for the regular season, and even top offensive playmakers Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke have been hobbled.
Brooks said Wednesday that Cobb is questionable for this weekend’s Georgia game with a shoulder injury.
Still, here the Wildcats are, pointing toward a fourth consecutive postseason.
“The very obvious thing, at least to me, is that our depth is better than it has been,” Brooks said of his club’s perseverance. “We’re at least still competitive and have a chance to win and haven’t fallen off the face of the earth like we would have in past years.”
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Chris Low
Low joined ESPN.com in 2007 after 10 years with The (Nashville) Tennessean covering the University of Tennessee and SEC. The Rock Hill, S.C., native lives with his wife in Knoxville and has three sons.
