2014’s Emmanuel Mudiay down to five teams, Kentucky Wildcats still in running

Mark Stoops faced the media yesterday and now it is down to work as he has a tremendous task ahead of him. Athlon Sports has a dire prediction for this season with three pundits predicting a 3-9 season and two others a 2-10 year, which includes another loss to WKU. But overall, the gang likes Mark Stoops and think that good things are in the future. Just not this year.

"David Fox (@DavidFox615) I’ll buy stock in Mark Stoops for his long-term prospects at Kentucky, but not for 2013. Who put together this schedule? From Sept. 14-Oct. 12, Kentucky faces the defending national champs, the Sugar Bowl participants and a top-10 team on the road. Kentucky’s just doesn’t have the talent to compete in the SEC, and the real problem is that the Wildcats are really the only ones in this category. Vanderbilt has distanced itself from Kentucky in a big way. Mississippi State and Ole Miss (the latter of which isn’t on UK’s schedule) aren’t doormats anymore. Kentucky’s real statements are going to have to be against Western Kentucky (who defeated UK in overtime last season) and Miami (Ohio). Lose those games and Kentucky runs the risk of losing to every FBS team on the schedule. After that, Kentucky has to hope it has enough pieces like Bud Dupree and Donte Rumph up front to put a scare into Missouri or Vandy late in the season. Other than that, the season is pretty bleak. Josh Ward, (@Josh_Ward), Mr. SEC It’s been a successful offseason for Kentucky, which has put together one of the nation’s top recruiting classes for 2014. Unfortunately, none of those players are available. It will likely be a difficult season for Kentucky, which has a promising coaching staff but a depleted roster. Still, Kentucky fans shouldn’t give up hope. What if the Wildcats force a few turnovers at home against Louisville? Road games against Mississippi State and Vanderbilt won’t be easy, but they’re winnable. Missouri and Tennessee are both coming off losing seasons and have to travel to Lexington. Kentucky’s defense will rely on a strong line and one of the league’s top linebackers in Avery Williamson. If the Wildcats get consistent (and healthy) play at quarterback, they might surprise a team or two."

Media Day also answered one of the most bizarre questions lately … “What in the heck was up with Chad Scott’s cash and recruits tweet”?  

"University of Kentucky running backs coach Chad Scott didn’t have to say he made a mistake to admit it, at least when it came to a late-night Twitter posting July 27 that referenced recruits and money. Scott tweeted, “Okay, got my boys to my right, throwin’ up this money, these recruits know what I like, all about this money…” — a recruiting-themed twist to the lyrics of rap group Rich Gang’s “We Been On.” The first-year UK coach deleted the social media post immediately, though not in time to stop its contents from spreading across Twitter and eventually to online reports. “I shouldn’t have done that,” Scott said Monday at UK’s football media day. “It’s a song lyric, and I didn’t mean it that way. In the business of recruiting you’re always trying to find a way to relate to kids and that kind of deal. That’s what I was trying to do. I probably shouldn’t have put it in that context. “It’s funny, because some of the other things I tweet sometimes, they all come from song lyrics and some of the kids we’re talking to re-tweet it, or they put it on their little Vine deal. The business of recruiting is so competitive. You’re just trying to find any edge or any way you can to relate with a kid.”"