Can Kentucky football take it to the next level? Let old times be forgotten.
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Citrus Bowl game day: Kentucky 20, Iowa 17
Click below for more of the Herald-Leader’s and Kentucky.com’s coverage of Saturday’s VRBO Citrus Bowl between Kentucky and Iowa at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.
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You remember Kentucky football, right, the program that can’t.
Kentucky can’t win consistently in football. That was until Mark Stoops showed up to go 59-53 overall with Kentucky’s thrilling 20-17 Citrus Bowl victory on Saturday over Iowa to finish this season 10-3. Stoops’ nine UK predecessors all departed with losing records.
Kentucky can’t consistently go to bowl games. If you’re scoring at home, Saturday was UK’s sixth consecutive bowl trip.
Kentucky can’t consistently win bowl games. If you’re scoring at home, Saturday was the Wildcats’ fourth consecutive bowl victory and its second New Year’s Day bowl triumph in four years.
Kentucky can’t win in the SEC. The Cats went 5-3 to finish second in the SEC East. Since 2018, Stoops is 17-17 in the toughest conference in the country.
Kentucky can’t play physical football. Forget all the fancy schemes and corner-cutters to building a winning program. From day one, Stoops has preached the gospel of physicality. Turns out, compound interest compounds daily.
“Kentucky has a good team, veteran team and a very physical team,” said Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz after Saturday’s loss. “So congratulations to them.”
Kentucky can’t recruit at a high level. Last month, Stoops and recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow signed their highest-ranked class since coming to Kentucky. UK’s class is ranked 10th by Rivals, 11th by 247Sports. Not in the SEC. In the nation.
Kentucky can’t beat a good team. So went this year’s knock. Before Saturday, UK had beaten just one team with a winning record. Make that two. By besting Iowa, UK beat a 10-win team, a Big Ten division champ, and a team that led 17-13 with under two minutes remaining.
Kentucky can’t keep the best local talent at home. After all, Madison Southern’s Damien Harris and Lafayette’s Jedrick Wills won national titles at Alabama. Covington Catholic’s Michael Mayer is a star tight end at Notre Dame. Wan’Dale Robinson left Kentucky for Nebraska. Two years later, however, he returned. And what a return. Robinson set the school single-season receiving record.
Actually, Robinson’s impact went far beyond stats. He was basically Kentucky’s only receiver Saturday and Iowa still couldn’t stop him. Thirteen targets, 10 catches. On that game-winning drive at crunch time, Robinson caught four passes for 76 yards, including a car crash of a 17-yard reception on a third-and-10, plus the 52-yarder that set up Chris Rodriguez’s 6-yard TD with 1:48 left.
Kentucky can’t lure top transfers. If Robinson objects, Levis will second the emotion. We knew the Penn State transfer had a physical presence and a powerful, if sometimes erratic, arm. What we did not know about were his leadership skills. From the time stepped on campus, Levis’ toughness, determination and willingness to, well, put himself out there galvanized his teammates.
Kentucky can’t put players in the NFL. Thirteen Wildcats have been selected in the last three drafts, including two first-round picks. More will be added to the list in the 2022 draft.
Kentucky can’t pay its assistant coaches. Both offensive coordinator Liam Coen and defensive coordinator Brad White are receiving significant pay bumps where each will earn over a $1 million per year. After being pursued by LSU, White will make $1.4 million. Coen will make $1.1 million.
Kentucky can’t build depth. Through injuries, COVID and contact tracing, UK was missing five starters plus several other important contributors on Saturday. And it won anyway.
Kentucky can’t take the next step. That’s the current question, the big question, the next question. We defer here to Mr. Levis, speaking on Saturday about the incoming class for 2022.
“We have to make sure they come in with a positive attitude and looking to learn and get better,” the quarterback said. “Because if they want to be a part of even a bigger step to the next level, whether it is a New Year’s Six Bowl game or a College Football Playoff or SEC Championship, we need to take it up a notch.”
Rarely in the history of the program has Kentucky football been in better position to challenge the traditional powers. True, there will be significant personnel losses off this 2021 edition. Just as there were after 2018. But culture carries over.
“This is the standard,” Robinson said Saturday. “Every year from now on, you want to win 10 or more.”
You remember Kentucky football, right?
Let old times be forgotten.
This story was originally published January 2, 2022 at 12:26 PM.
