OT: Kentucky Football Pulling It Together
If you haven't recently checked out Rivals 2014 class rankings, you are in for quite the surprise. Kentucky, who finished 2-10 last season and finished without a win in the SEC, currently has the number 1 overall class according to Rivals. While it is still early and bound to change, they currently have 18 overall commitments and 5 four star commitments as well. This is a program that was fighting against Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee State for recruits last year... Then again, all of this means nothing because we all know ESPN is the most accurate for the 2014 recruiting class.
In all seriousness, though, Mark Stoops has done a tremendous job of installing hope in a program that really should not be relevant in the SEC year in and year out. They brought in a spring game crowd of more than 50,000 when they were struggling to get 45,000 to games last season, and Stoops has done an excellent job of stepping up their recruiting. In the next couple of years, I think this is one team that could certainly raise some eyebrows in the SEC.
In all seriousness, why the hell can't Wisconsin, Iowa, MSU or Penn State get these players over Kentrucky? A new regime is always a gamble to commit to and playing in the SEC doesn't hold that much weight does it?
I'm gonna sound all cheesy and dramatic, but it's up to us to stop it. But seriously, considering the circumstances, Michigan and Ohio look like the only two programs to keep the B1G relevant for the next however many years.
I don't get it either. Kentucky has a losing all-time record, 0 national titles, 0 Heisman winners, and 2 conference championships. They are a bottom-feeder. To me, this is just evidence of how ridiculous the SEC hype has become. It doesn't even matter what team you play for anymore as long as you're in the conference.
Yes, but they were chosen as the national champions by exactly 1 of 16 ranking systems.
That is the question that many of the B1G schools had better start working on. Coaching can overcome talent to a point, but many of the B1G schools really need to start getting some talent on board. I hate the Fing SEC, but when you look at the talent level year in and year out, it makes sense why they get the rankings that they do.
They aren't even in the top 25 in average star rating.
Definitely agree on point #2. Was down there for the 2012 Natl Champ game, and it was an amazing atmosphere with gorgeous girls. In addition, MSU needs to send a few of their bros down to Lexington to learn a thing or two about rioting. Watching two guys carry an already on fire couch to the middle of the street and then being chased away by a phalanx of riot police was definitely entertaining.
1) Stoops just must be a great recruiter
2) Kentucky is an SEC bottom feeder, but its still in the SEC.
3) New coaches bring change and excitement, and some kids want to be the foundation of that new program. Some kids would rather be remembered as the guys who toiled and busted their asses not just to win football games, but to help lay the foundation for greatness down the road and build a program's identity, rather than just being another cog in an already stable and successful war machine, like Alabama.
That's something no team in the SEC has been able to do yet... Kentucky's done a great job of expanding their recruitment north.
Maybe the state of Kentucky is a great place to attend college for athletes. One could argue that Louiville has one of the hottest athletic departments in the country. They currently have top 10 programs in football, baseball, and basketball.
That is definitely a true statement. Both Louisville and Kentucky are very competitve schools, but a lot of this situation relates to the job that Mark Stoops is doing at the program. Both aren't bad academically either, and I guarantee you that a lot of these 2 and 3 stars going to Kentucky aren't just going there for the football either and probably have bigger plans after school.
Totally legit. Has to be.
I'm sure they're acting completely ethical too, lest they be the first to stain the SEC's current reputation.
They may be off to a better start than usual, but their ranking is mostly due to the fact that their class is almost done already. They have 18 commitments, while we have 11, ND has 11, LSU has 10, Ohio has 10, and Alabama 13.
If you look at their average star ranking, it's nothing special (3.22). Ours (3.55) is significantly higher.
Network effect.
Having played opens up doors for jobs in the future. UK guys know they are not filling the first three rounds of the draft for the most part (talking football not basketball) so the players tend to be more strategic.
Besides it is not like Southerners are above glorifying the guys on the losing side. ;)
This newfound mojo will last for (at most) two years. When Kentucky puts their usual shoddy product on the field in 2013 and 2014 all of this new coach bounce in recruiting they are enjoying now will dissipate.