Photo by Keyli Chisesi (Go Big Blue Country)
I know it hurts, I feel the same exact pain. The same heartbreak that 61,000 fans inside Kroger Field felt on Saturday night and others across the commonwealth. The heartbreak of another devastating loss to the team from the Sunshine State, but this time was different. This time Kentucky was the better team and for once it was clearly noticeable. Yet, the game yielded the same result as the thirty before it.
Yes, Kentucky missed a golden opportunity to not only end the misery of one of college football’s longest losing streaks, but also a chance to get a leg up in the SEC East. However, all hope is not lost, even though it may feel that way for the next few days. This team will not and cannot be defined by what happened on Saturday night.
For many years, the goals and fan expectations for Kentucky football were simple to understand. Win 6 games; hope you upset Florida or Tennessee, beat Louisville, and hang on until basketball season. Sure, most of those are still goals, but entering this season, fans expected 8 to 9 victories and a shot at the SEC East. Despite the loss on Saturday night, those goals are still in play.
I encourage you to take a step back, look at the remaining eight games, and tell me who scares you as an opponent. Yes, Georgia was impressive at home, but a lot can happen between now and November 18th. On the other hand, Missouri is a mess, Mississippi State is unpredictable, Tennessee is hanging on by a thread, Ole Miss has looked bad at times, and Vanderbilt came crashing back to reality. Pair those six conference games with Eastern Michigan and Louisville at home. Now tell me who scares you.
Fresh off a loss to Florida, this is when the fan base needs to get behind the team. I know, it’s tough to get up, dust off, and show up again. Yet, that is what you must do. You must continue to support the coaching staff and players, even though you may want to criticize them. Trust me, they feel just as bad as you do, if not worse.
Even though you might not admit it, the program is in the best shape it has been in and that is credited to Stoops and his staff. A program where no longer just achieving bowl eligibility is the goal and fans aren’t simply waiting for basketball season. The Big Blue Nation is a fan base starving for football success and if you just hold on, this team will deliver that.
The biggest difference in the locker room is the change of mentality. In years past, that loss would spiral into multiple losses. However, I don’t see that happening to this team because it has the “don’t flinch” attitude of its head coach. The player’s mentality has changed, now it is time for you, the fans to change your mentality. Be passionate, but think before you take to social media to criticize a student-athlete or a coach. When this team achieves success, you may regret negative words or thoughts you made public.
I’m not saying there is anything wrong with being upset and thinking that mistakes were made because that definitely was the case. I’m just saying to think before you hit send on a tweet and if you even question it, then don’t send it.
So, what comes next is pretty simple. Show up to Kroger Field on Saturday vs. Eastern Michigan and the following weekend vs. Missouri. The sting of the Florida loss may never completely go away, but the team and fans will heal together with each victory.
