Kentucky Wildcats Athletics: What we learned over the summer

THE BIG BLUE NATION IS THRIVING

Those that read me know I have a particular disdain for schools that use the “Nation” term improperly.  In my opinion, there are a handful of schools that truly qualify as a “nation” and Kentucky truly is one of them.  One of the big requirements for “Nation” status is the undying support fans have for their schools, even in the bad seasons.  And Kentucky fans love their Blue through good and bad.

I can not think of a WORSE possible season than last year for the BBN.  We had a horrible, embarrassing 2-10 football season and a NIT appearance for basketball.  Our last coach that went to the NIT got fired, but Kentucky fans have never wavered in their support of this team.  This site actually had a record year during that horrible football season and basketball season and I see your Twitter accounts.  I know you bleed blue.

I know that the analogy has been done before, but Kentucky is really the New York Yankees of college sports.  I’m not a Yankee’s fan, but I know plenty of their fans and they brush off a bad season quickly and know they will be back next year.  Bad seasons are when the opposing fans have to get their lumps in on the Big Blue Nation because next year they may not get a chance.  I know some pundits like to say Notre Dame has the best fans, but they are so-so in their support of basketball.  Kentucky has a more complete fanbase than any other school and I am very proud to be a part of that.

Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

KENTUCKY FOOTBALL IS HERE TO STAY

I have heard the rival fans and their negativity on this years team.  Their most popular refrain is that “When the losses mount for Kentucky football, these recruits are going to bolt”.  And while that may be true for a lot of schools, that argument is absolutely rubbish for this 2014 Kentucky football class.  And much of the credit goes to Drew Barker.  Barker has taken the role of lead recruiter for UK football and the fact he is an Elite 11 QB, recruits listen.

With Stoops and the staff, Barker has bought into the “band of brothers” mentality and has spread it to the recruits.  If Kentucky with their murderers row of a schedule falters this year and goes say 2-10, this recruits are not jumping ship.  If anything, they smell will smell blood in the water and see possible playing time for 2014 and will come to camp like a Sharknado, which was easily the best bad movie of the summer.  Hands down, or is it fins down?

Aside from Barker, Mark Stoops has reinvented the culture of Kentucky football in less than a year.  Season ticket sales are up, enthusiasm is high, and the fans are genuinely excited.  And if Stoops can land a guy like Matt Elam and a couple of other four star recruits, this could still be a Top 10 class in February.  The most important thing is that Kentucky fans have embraced Stoops and are willing to give him that honeymoon year that Joker Phillips did not get.