Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Yesterday, Kentucky had its most successful National Signing Day in program history, a testament not only to the coaching staff but to the recruits who bonded over the course of the last year and kept their word to stick with UK. By day’s end, Kentucky ended up with either the #17 (Rivals), #20 (ESPN), or #23 (247sports.com) recruiting class in the country. Excitement around the program is, understandably, high. There is a buzz, a sense of hope, a belief that the program is headed toward a brighter future in the toughest conference in college football. A movement is afoot to pack Commonwealth Stadium with 60,000 fans for the Spring Game in April as a way to show Coach Stoops & Co. that last year’s attendance of 55,000 wasn’t just a one-time thing, that folks in the state can be just as passionate about football as they are about basketball. Yes, National Signing Day was a very good day for Kentucky football.
But….
But it is a long road from National Signing Day in February to the SEC Championship. Indeed, it is a long road from National Signing Day in February to that first conference win since beating Tennessee to close out the 2011 season.
But while more 4-star players signed Letters of Intent yesterday than signed by Joker Phillips and Rich Brooks combined, everyone knows that once in college, the number of stars next to a kid’s name is irrelevant. Randall Cobb was a 3-star guy coming out of high school.
But the true assessment of Mark Stoops won’t be the number of 4 and 5-star guys he ultimately convinces to play at Kentucky. It will be how well they develop. Do they get better? Do they maximize their talent? Do they become pro prospects?
But more than that, the true assessment will really be the number of games Stoops wins, especially against Louisville and in the SEC.
But as good as Kentucky’s day was yesterday, it was an even better day for 8 other teams in the SEC. Kentucky’s 2014 recruiting class is, according to Rivals, ranked 9th out of 14 teams. Sorted by divisions, Kentucky has the 5th best class in the SEC East.
But yesterday—but today—none of it matters. What matters is that for now, there is hope, optimism, belief. It won’t be easy. And I’ve yet to meet a fan who believes it will be. Stoops isn’t trying to rebuild a once proud program, he’s trying to build a program. And again, he’s trying to do so in the toughest conference in the country.
I must admit that I haven’t always been the biggest Kentucky football fan. It isn’t necessarily that I haven’t been a fan but rather I’ve largely been indifferent. While I’ve never gone so far as wearing a University of Michigan shirt to a game, I certainly haven’t been a die-hard like so many I know. In graduate school, I went to a handful of games but mostly for the opportunity to tailgate before hand. Since moving to Ohio 7 years ago, I haven’t been back.
But it’s not hard to see the energy around the program.
But it’s not hard to see the momentum building.
But….
But why not?