WBN Nightcap: What UT Win does for UK's Future

Its hard to measure just how important Saturday’s win against Tennessee was for the future of the UK program. The Cats have to be more of a factor in the SEC to stay relevant. When you have a 26-game losing streak to a program that has essentially been on the same level as you have, that makes that very difficult. And with the SEC expanding and UK probably having to play a 9-game SEC schedule, that becomes impossible. UK had to beat Tennessee Saturday to save the future of the program, and the Cats finally came through.

John Calipari, who’s won over 500 games as coach (bite me NCAA) called UK’s win over Tennessee “one of the most impressive wins in the history of the UK Athletics program.” Its hard to argue with him, giving the lack of success UK has had during that 26-game losing streak to UT. Since 1984, UK has had only eight bowl seasons, five of which had come in the past five years. My point is UK has been on par with UT the last five seasons. Since 2007, Tennessee is 33-31. So is Kentucky. Saturday’s win may have been the final step to climb past Tennessee in the SEC hierarchy. In the past, a win/loss against UT was a season defining game. Since 1984, six times UK finished one win short of bowl eligibility. A win against UT would have given UK that bowl berth. At least for the next few years, it appears Vandy is the team to beat from Tennessee. If UK is to become bowl eligible again, the UT game may now be a must-win to get to bowl eligibility. But if UK doesn’t beat the Vols on Saturday and end the streak, its hard for anyone to believe UK can be a bowl contender every year.

The win was very important to future recruits, as it shows that UK is capable of being competitive in the SEC, and recruits don’t want to play for a school who is known best for their three-decade long losing streak to their state-border rivals.

“Beating Tennessee is better than bowl games. I know what that win means.”

That quote is from UK offensive lineman commit, Jordan Watson. Watson is one of UK’s highest rated recruits in the 2012 class, and shoring up an offensive line that loses three starters to graduation will be key for next year. Perhaps with this win, Joker and his staff can break through in the recruiting game and have a top-25 class in 2012. Several recuting sites already have the Cats’ class pegged as a top-30-35 class.

Senior Danny Trevethan had some farewell quotes and what he thinks the win will do for the program:

“I just told them that they would all be my brothers until the end. It had been a rough year for all of us, but I wanted them all to know where I stood and that we were going to stay the course and go out and play our best game. I love these guys, and they’re going to carry this thing on now. They don’t have that weight of that 26-game streak on their shoulders any more. It’s gone and not coming back. It’s a new beginning for our program, and I’m glad I could be here with these guys to see it end.”