Future Bright for UK Even with ‘Bitter Taste’ of Defeat

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Kentucky fans know the particulars.

There was the fumble Georgia Tech returned for a touchdown on the first drive of the TaxSlayer Bowl. And later, the failed fourth down in Tech territory for the Wildcats and the converted one not long after by the Yellow Jackets that led to a touchdown to put UK in a hole too deep.

Courtney Love wasn’t all that interested in the ins and outs of a disappointing loss though.

“We didn’t come away with the win,” Love said. “That was the bottom line. So we just gotta go back to the drawing board. It’s an unfortunate situation for our seniors.”

Those seniors, though the smallest group in the country, poured everything they had into helping the program reach bowl eligibility for the first time since 2010. Sending them off with a win was on the minds of everyone in the UK locker room, which made Saturday’s 33-18 loss to Georgia Tech sting.

No one, however, was about to forget about the fact that becoming bowl eligible and playing in the game of the prestige of the TaxSlayer Bowl is something to be celebrated regardless of the outcome.

“As I just told the team, we’re extremely disappointed with the way we finished in losing this game,” Mark Stoops said. “But I’m very proud of them. That’s a great group to coach. There’s a lot to build on. I’m very excited about the future.”

Stoops’ excitement is both justified and hard-earned.

He and his staff have done yeoman’s work on the recruiting trail and on the practice field to rebuild the UK program. They came under fire when the Cats started the season 0-2, but never flinched in the face of adversity. The result was a memorable season that lays the foundation for even brighter days.

“We’ll continue to build, become a stronger program,” Stoops said. “I’m excited about the future. I can’t let one game get myself or this team down or take anything away from the good things that they did.”

Most of the players responsible for those good things will be back next season, even with the departure of Boom Williams for the NFL, giving Stoops a full cupboard for his fifth season at UK. 

“There’s an awful lot we can build from,” Stoops said. “I’m so proud of this team, these players, everybody. We’ve come a long way. If you think it’s easy to build a program in this league, then you really don’t know much about football.”

Also working in UK’s favor is an energized fan base, which traveled to Jacksonville, Florida, by the thousands and made EverBank Field a home away from home for the Wildcats. 

“I’ve said it a long time, I feel an obligation to put a product on the field that our fan base is proud of,” Stoops said. “We’re going to build on this. We need the stadium filled. We have a bunch of good players that it means a great deal to play at a high level for them because they feel the effects, they feel the positive energy. How can you not?

“You walk around this city this week, you walk around our hotel, our luncheon the other day, our fans are exceptional. I thank them for coming. I wish we’d have played a little better. I promise you we’ll get back at it and we’ll have a very good football team next year.”

Before UK goes to work on that, the Cats will enjoy some well-deserved time off. When they return for the spring semester, their senior teammates won’t be alongside them any longer, but their legacy will remain.

“Those guys really worked hard to get us to this point, but it’s a huge accomplishment to get to this point,” Love said. “It’s a bitter taste in our mouth, but we’re going to celebrate the New Year and we’re going to get back to work.”