MCB 2009

A surprise win over the Georgia Bulldogs helps provide Kentucky with a better than expected 7-5 record and a trip to the Music City Bowl to take on the favorite Clemson Tigers. In 2006, our fanbase and team were ecstatic. Clearly more satisfied to be in Nashville than their counterparts, the Cats came to play. The fans showed up in droves and celebrated the team's first bowl trip in 8 years. The result, a not as close as it sounds 28-20 victory.

In 2009, the Cats are in the exact same position, but not really. With the exception of the fifth-year Seniors, no Wildcat has played on a Kentucky team that didn't go to a bowl. It is old hat. We are headed to our third Music City Bowl in four years. The bloom is off the rose a little bit. Like in 2007, many Cats fans are fresh off a trip to Nashville to see us play Vandy. On his criminally under appreciated Demolition album, Ryan Adams sang "Tennessee sucks in the summer". Cats fans who cancelled reservations in Tampa today might not be blamed for thinking it will suck on December 27th as well.

Lets face it, there is some pretty big letdown potential here. After losing the chance to play in Tampa in an overtime game against a hated rival, one wonders what this UK team will have in the tank. The game is far from a sellout, and I don't think UK will bring the contingent it did in 2006 and 2007. Many friends who made the trip before are staying home. Here are some reasons, though, why people should keep the faith, and why the team would be wise to focus.

1. We are underdogs, yes. But if any team could be less happy about being in the Music City Bowl, its Clemson. Five points from playing in the Orange , the Tigers instead took a Bobby Bowden induced dry dive down the ACC pecking order and wound up in this game. They got jobbed, plain and simple. Clemson is ripe for plucking.

2. CJ Spiller. The Cats let the likes of Monterio Hardesty and Anthony Dixon run ragged on them. In the MCB they will play against an even better back. I'm not sure I'd trade Spiller straight up for Mark Ingram. Holding him down would be a tremendous accomplishment for our front seven. Micah Johnson was snubbed by the AP today in All-SEC voting. It would be nice to see him end with a dominant performance.

3. Mike Hartline. Regardless of how Brooks handles the situation, it would be nice to see Mike get to be part of a victory. Next year's quarterback "battle" is going to be an interesting sub-plot in the off season. More on that another time.

4. Winning four bowl games in a row is a very difficult feat. The list of SEC teams that has been to and won bowls the last three years: Georgia, LSU, Kentucky. That is crazy good company. In addition, this is the only positive streak UK can claim to be a part of. Lets keep it going.

5. Nashville is a very nice safety valve for UK come bowl time. How many bowls would pick Kentucky over Georgia? If we throw in a clunker attendancewise, that might disappear.

Of course, one thing would certainly re-energize the Cats and their fans and get everyone pumped for the game: Rich Brooks announcing that it will be his last. Something tells me, however, that this isn't Brooks' way. Even if he decides to hang it up, he may want to take the focus off himself and not do so until after the game. That would be a mistake, in my opinion. We'll see how it goes.