Is this our year?

[UKFBFAN]

I hope for improvement this year but I don't think the goal should be measured in Bowl Games. The goal should be measured in excitement and good play. Make the fans optimistic for the future. Remember how we loved Mumme? But the wins weren't that great, were they?

I don't think this is our year to break out. I look to next year after these fine, young players have had a year to see what's demanded. That's the year we should make a splash. With a decent year in 2016 and a rising Junior Quarterback on the field for 2017 and more depth across the team, I like 2017.

[Joneslab]

I hope for improvement this year but I don't think the goal should be measured in Bowl Games.

I look at the schedule and the roster and it's hard to see a bowl game. Unless Barker is a lot better than I think he is and the defense--particularly up front--is better than it looks on paper, then no, I don't think it's our year to make a bowl.

And the problem with that is that Stoops dropped the ball big-time last year. Now if it turns out like I think it could then that's four years with no bowl. That means there's going to be a ton of apathy in the off-season.

There's apathy now. Except for the diehards the sentiment I get about UK football when I'm out talking to people is pretty much "Ugh."

That's a byproduct of the catastrophe that was last season. Stoops badly needs for this team to be much better than they seem to be on paper.

[Joneslab]

The goal should be measured in excitement and good play.

And the issue with this is that if you're losing in this league, you're usually losing big. Or else you're losing in true Kentucky fashion under Stoops: getting a decent lead and then failing to hold it.

If you lose that way it's really hard, impossible really, to feel excitement as a fan.

There have to be wins. Four years in Stoops can't be given credit for "almost" and "we're getting there." That worked two years ago; this coming season, after the disaster we witnessed last year, no.

[Matt Dillon]

I agree with Will. I'm not sure coach Stoops can survive another season of not making a bowl. Normally, in my opinion, a coach should be able to quality for a bowl when his first class are seniors. Even though the schedule is, arguably, tougher this season, if we show dramatic improvement from coach Stoops first season, we should have a decent chance at six wins, in my opinion.

[johnkyblue]

All we gotta do is beat Vandy. Somebody on our schedule that is supposed to be very good won't be. Somebody on our schedule that is supposed to be bad won't be. Overall, they aren't as intimidating as they are made out to be.

[Matt Dillon]

All we gotta do is beat Vandy. Somebody on our schedule that is supposed to be very good won't be. Somebody on our schedule that is supposed to be bad won't be. Overall, they aren't as intimidating as they are made out to be.

Exactly, John.

[Joneslab]

We're going to have to get three of the South Carolina, Vandy, Missouri, Mississippi State quartet to get to 6.

Because this isn't like last year. Last year you could really see some games that Kentucky could steal. I look at this schedule and see at least four games that are just not going to happen barring a miracle.

Just looks like a brutal schedule.

[Matt Dillon]

My four should win games are: Southern Miss, New Mexico St., Vandy and Austin Peay. So. Car. (H), Missouri (A) and UGa. (H) will all have new coaching staffs, so it's difficult to predict how their teams will be performing. Although Miss St. is a home game, I wouldn't bet any money on this one. Mullen is a fine coach in my opinion. Needless to say, there's no margin for error.

[RV]

There are only two games that UK has little to no chance to win; @ bama & @ ewe tee. Games that UK is not likely to win but not out of reach would be @ Florida, @ ul, home vs UGa and home vs MSU. Games that UK has a better than even chance to win are home games against SC & Vandy and @ Mizzou. Of course losing to any of USM, NMSt and AP would be a disaster.

UK will win all vs the last three.
UK will win at least 2 of the SC, VU and UM trio with only Mizzou on the road
The key to the season will be how many can they win, if any, of the four of UF, ul, UGa & MSU. Both Georgia and Mississippi State are at home.

Sweep the first two groupings and a bowl is assured. Win one of the last four and a very good season has transpired. Win two of the four and we will accomplish the title of this thread.

[johnkyblue]

Is UTK not going to suffer over the allegation that their coach enabled the beating of women? Their coach should be charged in that. If brought to a grand jury I was on, I would charge him. Until that game, who knows what will happen? Something worse could happen to them or even us.

[40bill]

Will nailed it. Last year was the big shot. UK is considered a wild card in the group of four non championship contenders of the east. Sweep the other three and the OOC and you have it. I'm afraid Miss State has left us in the dust. I just don't see us in the same class as Alabama, and the Florida defense will be reloaded and likely better than last year. Georgia has a Heismann stable for running backs, and I fear a strong opponents run game will be anathema for our Cats unless this staff and team is hiding a lot of somethings.
I'm more afraid of another year of meltdown than another year of losses. THAT would mark the end of the Stoops era imo. Not so much the losses, but the nature of those losses. Right now, my outlook is pretty gloomy.

[Matt Dillon]

Is UTK not going to suffer over the allegation that their coach enabled the beating of women? Their coach should be charged in that. If brought to a grand jury I was on, I would charge him. Until that game, who knows what will happen? Something worse could happen to them or even us.

As long as it's allegations, nothing will be done, nor should it be. It he's indicted, tried and found guilty, then that's another story.

[teamchemistry15]

I certainly hope to make a bowl this year. If not, I think Stoops might be gone. I am not saying I want that personally, but with the talent he is bringing in there's no reason we don't make a bowl in his 4th year. Hopefully we make a bowl this year and get some kids drafted. We had one player drafted this year. A kid who came in as a receiver and moved to LB. One player drafted. One. That's terrible for a SEC team. I know the talent we have is young, but that just goes to show you what Stoops was dealt. North Dakota State got more guys drafted than UK. Now that he has all of his guys in there with the exception of the RS seniors, it is time for results.

[Uncle Dave]

I'd love nothing more than to see the Cats rip off an 8 or 9 win regular season, but my brain thinks more like 5-7. IF, Stoops wins at least 5 games, I believe he deserves a shot at 2017. Less than 5 wins, and all bets are off. Say we go to a bowl next year. At what point does Barnhart begin talking about an extension? IF it's merited, the sooner the better I think. JMO.

[Matt Dillon]

IF it's merited, the sooner the better I think. JMO.

The key phrase being "if it's merited".